Hunt to give Mbatha ‘a fair chance’
Coach lauds MDC for nurturing young players
After impressing in the MultiChoice Diski Challenge (MDC) this season for Bidvest Wits juniors, Wits head coach Gavin Hunt has promised to give youngster Sibongakonke Mbatha a “fair chance” in the first team for the upcoming season.
“He is one of our best young players. I will give him a fair chance in the first team. He will have a full pre-season with the team.
“I always like to give youngsters an opportunity. Mbatha is a special talent. We need to make sure he develops well within our structures,” Hunt said.
The 52-year-old mentor, who guided the Clever Boys to their maiden Absa Premiership title, has also lauded the importance of the MDC in nurturing local young players into first team materials.
“The MDC helps the players gain necessary experience and be ready for firstteam action. Reeve Frosler [Wits defender] started the season in that reserve league but went on to be an important member of our first team; that shows how important the reserve league is,” Hunt said.
Mbatha, 19, was part of the South African U-20 side that failed to advance to the knockout phase of the Fifa Under-20 World Cup in South Korea.
Four months ago, Mbatha was one of Amajita’s best performers at the CAF U20 Africa Cup of Nations in Zambia.
The Ulundi, KZN-born midfielder also featured for the SA Under-17 side at the World Cup in Chile in 2015. Mbatha joined the Wits development team from the Safa Football School of Excellence last year.