Wits teen protege eager to learn from stars

Kobamelo Kodisang (right) certainly has the confidence of youth flowing through his 17-year-old veins.

The Bidvest Wits attacking midfielder was asked this week what it was like working with star names in the Clever Boys squad like Steven Pienaar and Daylon Claasen.

“I was scared, but as you play against them it is easier for you to improve,” he said.

“Going forward I think I will be better than them. All I can say is it is about working hard.”

Wits have developed a reputation in the last few years not only as one of the best sides in the country, but also as a side that brings through young talent. The Clever Boys’ PSL Young-Player-of the-Season, Phakamani Mahlambi, is currently on trial in Portugal with Vitoria de Guimaraes, with club CEO Jose Ferreira confident of a deal going through by the end of the transfer window.

And striker Liam Jordan, even though he has not played much for the Wits first team, is set for another loan spell at Sporting Lisbon next season.

It is easy, in this light, to see why Kodisang, who at 15 was one of the youngest ever to play in a PSL match, chose Wits over signing a new deal with Platinum Stars.

“We always try to move players to another level,” said Wits coach Gavin Hunt. “If we find a youngster like that we try and build him and find them a career where we can, at a level that is better.

“KK (Kodisang) is one of the most exciting prodigies I have seen for a long time, hopefully he can learn from boys like Daylon and Steven going forward. I think he is the future of football, not only at Wits but in South Africa. Boys like him and Phakamani are players the national team should be crying out for and I am sure they will (get there).”

For now, Kodisang will continue to work on his game at Wits, with Hunt indicating that learning how to play without the ball is most important in his development right now.

“I can’t teach him much with the ball, even at his age,” he said.

“I can help him in his technique. What we have to teach this boy is how to work off the ball. Even in two weeks you can already see a change in the youngster.”