Vilakazi ready for Chiefs first team?

Prior to last weekend’s Carling Black Label Cup match that pitted Carling Knockout champions Stellenbosch FC against a Carling All-Star line-up voted for by fans, a fair number of eyeballs were fixated on Mfundo Vilakazi, the teenage prodigy who shot to prominence in the Kaizer Chiefs DStv Diski Challenge side. Just as well, ‘Obrigado’, a moniker he answers to in local football, had been one of the players who received the highest number of votes from fans. Some background info: this is an innovation by Carling Black Label to form a team made up of players from all 15 DStv Premiership sides, paired with five players from the DDC, to take on the defending champions. Not only did the silky winger live up to expectations in the 2-1 win over Stellies, where he grabbed a goal just three minutes into the match, but he put up his hand for a berth in the Amakhosi first team, who are under the guidance of Cavin Johnson (albeit on an interim basis ), a man never averse to throwing young players into the deep end, having done so in the past with Kobamelo Kodisang and Gift Links, amongst others. Turning out for the Glamour Boys, though, is a different kettle of fish and many young players have too often seemed ready for the step up, only to rot away in the stands, or the bench, before making an exit without so much as a chance to don the famous jersey. So, in this Siya Special with a twist, following Vilakazi’s latest display and so much attention on him, Soccer Laduma speaks to a number of players past and present to share their thoughts on the teen’s performance and his prospect for the future.