Monday, May 29, 2023

Teboho Mokoena, wearing the boots that once belonged to giants.


DStv Premiership Footballer of the Season, as well as Midfielder of the Season Award winner, Teboho Mokoena, is wearing heavy boots that once belonged to giants like Esrom Nyandoro, Hlompho Kekana, and more recently, Andile Jali.

What's with the long range cracker he banged in when we beat Al Ahly SC 5-2 during the CAF Champions League group stage? Was that not a vintage Nyandoro and Kekana strike?

I bet it was.

When it comes to the number six position, Mamelodi Sundowns has rarely put a foot wrong, and Mokoena seems to be continuing with the tradition of our former captains.

ALSO READ: We have been good, but it is time for us to be great: http://thesundownsspace.blogspot.com/2023/05/weve-been-good-its-time-for-us-to-be.html

He still has a long way to go, but as he keeps growing, their boots will fit him perfectly.

Doubts were there when he stepped in to replace Jali in the starting line up.

Jali had won midfielder of the season in the 2021/22 season, and rarely put a foot wrong as our six, commanding the midfield like a war hardened general that he is.

When he was suddenly benched for Mokoena, it meant Tebza had a lot to do to win the hearts of The Yellow Nation, and prove that he was ready to take charge of our engine room.

And prove himself he did, putting in hard shifts in our midfield, with some sterling work on and off the ball.

Mokoena, although not much of an intimidating figure, has the bite, a strong engine to do the long yards, and the technique to find his teammates with short and medium range passes.

And he can score, which is a big plus, even though he hasn't found the back of the net as much as he is capable of doing.

ALSO READ: Downs Ladies drop back to second spot: http://thesundownsspace.blogspot.com/2023/05/we-need-to-work-on-improving-our.html

Again, as he keeps on improving under coach Rulani Mokwena, an advocate of hard work and consistent improvement, we might see him growing in leaps and bounds, becoming the Rolls-Royce of deep-lying-midfielders in African football.

In a nutshell, our midfield is in good hands, as the Sundowns midfield has been ever since I can remember. 

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