Cape Town - Talent has never been in short supply in South African football. The sport just needs brave coaches who are prepared to offer these youngsters an opportunity at PSL level.
While Ajax Cape Town have been doing it successfully for many years, the trend is slowly but surely infecting other clubs in the PSL.
Last year, Wits gave a debut to 15-year-old Liam Jordan and so, too, did Platinum Stars with Kobamelo Kodisang, also 15 at the time.
Jordan has since signed for Portuguese giants Sporting Lisbon, while Platinum coach Cavin Johnson, who discovered Steven Pienaar in the township of Westbury, has stated boldly that Kodisang reminds him of a young “Schillo”.
Add to that other teenagers who have taken the PSL by storm over the last few seasons - Rivaldo Coetzee, Phakamani Mahlambi and Denwin Farmer, to name a few - and there’s no doubt that the hoary old expression “if you’re good enough, you’re old enough” remains as true as ever.
Not to be left behind, Cape Town City have followed suit by handing 17-year-old Hout Bay midfielder Duncan Adonis a debut in their 3-0 defeat to Wits at the weekend.
On Wednesday night, City are back in action when they are in Durban to take on Golden Arrows in a PSL fixture (kickoff 7.30pm), and chances are that Adonis will again be given some time on the field to build on his experience.
The Cape club rate Adonis very highly and are predicting a bright future for him. It obviously wasn’t the best of times to come off the bench, with the team already 3-0 down but the youngster enjoyed his time out, and it’s a debut he’ll always remember.
“To be honest, I felt very confident when I came on against Wits,” Adonis said. “I was prepared as I was sitting on the bench because I knew that coach Eric Tinkler would give me time to play in that game. I was happy for the opportunity.
“My aim now is just to keep focusing, to work harder and to try to stay in the 18-man squad. I’m looking forward to having a fantastic season with my new teammates.”
As for the fixture against Arrows on Wednesday evening, Adonis insists he will be ready if called upon.
“As they always say, expect the unexpected,” the teenager quipped.
“If I am in the coach’s plans, I will be very happy and excited. The coach makes the decisions, it’s up to him. But I’m looking forward to being in the squad.
“He (Tinkler) is a very good coach. I have learnt a lot of things from him, things that, as a youngster, I didn’t know about before. There are a lot of good things I can say about the coach. I am looking forward to having a great season, staying humble and trying to be consistent,” Adonis added.
After tonight’s Arrows game, City return home to prepare for Saturday’s second leg of the semi-finals of the MTN8 at Cape Town Stadium. Having lost the first leg 3-0, the Cape outfit have a mountain to climb. But Adonis, for one, is not giving up yet.
“Obviously, I believe we can come back because, in the game of football, anything can happen,” he said.
“Just as I said earlier, expect the unexpected. We just have to stay positive and believe that we can and improve on our mistakes and come into this game with a positive mindset. It will be hard for us, but this is football.
“Wits are a very good team, but so are we. I believe we can come back and make some history for ourselves.”
This week’s fixtures
PSL
Wednesday: Kaizer Chiefs v Platinum Stars; SuperSport United v Chippa United; Golden Arrows v Cape Town City (Prince Magogo Stadium, 7.30pm); Free State Stars v Bloemfontein Celtic; Maritzburg Utd v Mamelodi Sundowns
MTN8 semi-finals, second leg
Saturday: Cape Town City v Wits (Cape Town Stadium, 8.15pm) - Wits won the first leg 3-0.
Wednesday, September 21: Mamelodi Sundowns v Chippa United - the first leg ended in a 0-0 draw
Cape Argus