Brighton’s Bucs future looks brighter
OF ALL the Orlando Pirates fans who will cheer Brighton Mhlongo on tonight, none will be as delighted as George Nontlantane at seeing the young goalkeeper take to the field.
Mhlongo is expected to take over the Buccaneers’ gloves, following the death of Senzo Meyiwa two weeks ago, and be in goal against SuperSport United at Orlando Stadium for the Telkom Knockout semi-final.
And Nontlantane will be beside himself with excitement at seeing the boy he believed in many years ago finally getting a chance at the big time, the tragic circumstances behind the opportunity notwithstanding.
“I first saw him as a 12-year-old when he came to Pirates (Academy) and just about everybody felt he was too small and too skinny to be a goalkeeper – even coach (Augusto) Palacios (the Academy’s director),” Nontlantane remembers.
“But there was something about him that made me like him. He had this look of determination about him and when we train he showed glimpses of potential. He was confident; he listened attentively to instructions; had very good hands and was very brave.”
With Nontlantane’s approval, the lad from Protea Glen in Soweto was admitted into the Buccaneers Academy where Meyiwa was his senior. Nontlantane had been coaching goalkeepers – on a parttime basis – for years having started way back when the Pirates junior teams were coached by Johannes “Yster” Khomane.
The likes of Thabani Stemmer, the former Pirates goalie who is now his assistant goalkeepercoach at University of Johannesburg, as well as Brilliant Khuzwayo of Kaizer Chiefs went through his hands. He also worked with Wayne Sandilands at SuperSport United’s Academy when ’keeper was a 14-year-old.
But he has a special relationship with Mhlongo, and the 23year-old directed the Saturday Star to “talk to coach George if you want to know about my development”.
“I wasn’t at Pirates for long and when Brighton left for Garankuwa United we lost contact. But we reconnected when he came to FC AK where I was working. I remember getting him his debut there. We were playing Santos and I told the coach to give the boy a chance but he was sceptical. I insisted and we held Santos to a goalless draw and Brighton did well against a side that bombarded our box with crosses and high balls. There was no looking back for him since and I was not surprised when he returned to Pirates.”
As Mhlongo gets thrown into
the the deep end for only his second official start for the Buccaneers since signing a professional contract back in 2011, Nontlantane has no doubt his protégé will make the grade.
“He is a naturally talented ’keeper. But most importantly he is willing to learn. And he works at his trade. He’s a brilliant shotstopper and I’m sure he will do well against SuperSport. His future at Pirates looks bright,” says the policeman with a passion for goalkeeping, adding that Mhlongo’s humility will stand him in good stead.
This assertion was corroborated by Mhlongo’s long-standing friend Mxolisi Shangase. “Brighton always wanted to play professional football and I’m happy he is now getting the chance to live his dream,” Shangase said yesterday. “He is not going to let it get to his head. He is a very humble guy.”
A good perfor mance tonight will change his standing in the local game – and it will make the one man who believed in a pre-teen Brighton when others doubted his ability, super delighted.