LESHABELA GETS NEW FOXES DEAL
IT LOOKS to be only a matter of time before Khanya Leshabela becomes the latest South African to play in the English Premier League after he penned a new three-and-a-half-year contract with Leicester City this week.
The 19-year-old left South Africa at a young age and has been on Leicester’s books since 2013, and, having shone last season for their Under-18s, he has continued to impress for the Under-23 side this term.
Nominated for the Academy Player of the Year Award in the previous campaign, Leshabela has already come close to making his first team debut after being named in manager Claude Puel’s squad for a League Cup game against Southampton in November 2018.
The attack-minded midfielder plans to up his efforts with the Under-23s in order to force his way into the senior team, and he will also surely be on the radar of Bafana Bafana coach Stuart Baxter.
“This is great for me and my family,” Leshabela was quoted saying on his club’s website. “I’ve worked hard to get this and I’m just grateful to be given such an opportunity. This is the hard bit right now! I’m just looking to push forward and push into the first team.
“This year it’s been great to step up again into the Under-23s. It’s much different compared to the Under-18s, it’s a lot quicker and more physical so you’ve got to be aggressive and at it in every game because there’s no hiding place.
“In every Under-23s game, you’ve just got to be at it because (Claude Puel) is watching. You’ve got to just keep impressing,” Leshabela added.
One of the highlights of his stay at Leicester so far was a brilliantly taken Premier League Cup goal against Nottingham Forest, while he also represented the Foxes in the 2016/17 Uefa Youth League.
Should Leshabela make his debut this season, he’ll be the only South African currently to play in England’s top flight. South African football followers will also be hoping to see Percy Tau in the Premier League next season, the former Mamelodi Sundowns forward currently doing well in Belgium’s second division, where he was sent out on loan by Brighton.
Bafana Bafana midfielder Kamohelo Mokotjo currently plies his trade with Championship (second tier) side Brentford, while Kgosietsile Ntlhe (Rochdale, League One) is the only other South African playing in the top four divisions in England.
Two others – Sipho Mdlalose (Southampton) and Nikola Tavares (Crystal Palace) – are also at Premiership clubs but are currently in the youth ranks.
Steven Pienaar was the last South African to play in the Premier League back in April 2017, while others who have played at that level in the past 25 years include Lucas Radebe, Phil Masinga, Quinton Fortune, Benni McCarthy, Eric Tinkler, Aaron Mokoena, Shaun Bartlett, Mark Fish, Kagisho Dikgacoi, Mbulelo Mabizela, Matty Pattison and Tokelo Rantie.