Themba [Zwane] advised me to stay focused - Says Siyabonga Mabena.

Themba Zwane is a model professional footballer, a player youngsters can look up to for inspiration, and that is exactly what Siyabonga Mabena is doing.

The Mamelodi Sundowns youngster says he has been looking up to Zwane since his days with the School of Excellence.

Now that Mabena is sharing the same dressing room as his hero, things have become even better, as he is able to get valuable advice from his hero.

"Themba advised me to stay focused and not pay attention to negative things that people may say about me, he said I must only focus on my career," he said as quoted by SABC Sport. https://www.sabcsport.com/soccer/news/sa-u17-starlet-siyabonga-mabena-inspired-by-themba-zwane

"Themba Zwane is a player that I looked up to even when I was still at School of Excellence. Sharing the same changing room with him pushes me to work hard knowing that one day I may achieve what he has already achieved in football."

ALSO READ: https://safootballtxt.blogspot.com/2023/04/this-has-been-our-disease-zwane-on.html?m=1

Mabena, who is currently with the national U17 side for the Under Afcon, where he hopes to catch the eyes of overseas scouts, is not the only Sundowns youngster who has declared Themba Zwane as their role model.

Red hot forward, Cassius Mailula, who is amongst the best young footballers in South Africa, is also one of Mshishi's biggest admires. 

Do Sundowns really need Mabena for Stellenbosch match?

The South African national Under-17 side will be taking part in the African youth championships to be hosted by Algeria this month.

The tournament serves as a qualifier for the FIFA U17 World Cup 2023, to be held in Peru.

While SAFA are busy trying to get their necessary preparations under way, they have encountered a problem with Mamelodi Sundowns allegedly refusing to release their youth sensation, Siyabonga Mabena, in time to join the camp, according to a report by iDiski Times.

Sundowns next match, which could be the reason for them not releasing Mabena, is on Saturday in the Nedbank Cup against Stellenbosch FC.

Also Read: https://safootballtxt.blogspot.com/2023/04/theyve-given-me-no-reason-to-doubt-them.html?m=1

During the Cosafa U17 tournament,  which served as a qualifier for the AFCON, Mabena was a revelation for Duncan Crowie's side, scoring nine goals and winning player of the tournament.

He is expected to take Algeria by storm when the tournament begins, and possibly help the national U17s make it to Peru.

"This week, they said they will not release Mabena due to PSL commitments and we won’t be surprised if he plays 10 minutes against Stellenbosch," the source stated as quoted by iDiski Times.
https://www.idiskitimes.co.za/africa-cup-of-nations/safa-outraged-by-sundowns-mabena-decision/

"They want to release Mabena when the tournament begins but we need to do our own MRI tests tomorrow – before going to Algeria."

The source also highlighted the fact that they have had some challenges with some overseas players, but a few have joined the camp, and they don't expect to be fighting a local club to release a player.

"Some overseas-based players will not be part of the squad, but some as far as the United States traveled but we have to fight with a local club," he added.

"We have nothing against Sundowns, but we facing issues to have the best possible preparation for the tournament."

We should not be speaking about Mabena - Rulani Mokwena.

Mamelodi Sundowns 16-year-old sensation, Siyabonga Mabena. Image: Twitter

If there is one thing that Mamelodi Sundowns head coach, Rulani Mokwena does well, it is giving youngsters a chance at the club, while making sure he protects them at the same time.

What Mokwena did for Mailula, who became an overnight success with the Brazilians senior team, having been promoted straight from their Dstv Diski Challenge side, is what he is doing for Downs' latest youth sensation, 16-year-old Siyabonga Mabena.

Mabena made his second appearance for Sundowns against Cape Town City on Tuesday, and Mokwena did his best to deflect journalists attention away from the youngster regarding their questions.

With the curse of the rising star prevalent in South African football, where promising youngsters easily fall by the wayside, Mokwena cannot be blamed for hiding Mabena under his wing, especially considering his tender age.

"You ask me more about Mabena and you should be asking me about 'Mshishi' [Zwane], you should be asking me about Peter Shalulile and his level of consistency for the past four to five years at Highlands Park and Sundowns," said Mokwena as quoted by Times Live. https://www.timeslive.co.za/sport/soccer/2023-04-06-we-kill-these-talents-by-overhyping-them-sundowns-coach-mokwena/

"He [Shalulile] is on 98 goals and why are we not talking about Peter but talking about Mabena. We should not be speaking about Mabena because he has not done enough to be part of this press conference. 

"Focus on the people who for many years have reached a good level of performance, otherwise we kill these talents. We kill these talents by overhyping them and all of a sudden they think they have arrived.  

Also Read: https://safootballtxt.blogspot.com/2023/04/let-them-come-i-love-challenge-says.html?m=1

"It is the curse of the rising star. It sounds cliched, but it's true, and I am saying easy does it."