Posted in News, Reserve Team, Youth Academy on May 16, 2024.
Fifteen year old Neo Bohloko’s remarkable season in the DStv Diski Challenge (DDC) reached a pinnacle on Wednesday evening when he was crowned Player-of-the-Year at the Club’s end-of-season awards ceremony, held at the Kaizer Chiefs Village.
Bohloko also scooped the Top Goal Scorer award, while other recognition went to Goalkeeper-of-the-Year, Takalani Mazhamba and Players’-player-of-the-Year, Xolani Cossa.
Amakhosi finished the national U-23 league campaign in a creditable fifth place with a notably young squad of players who acquitted themselves superbly and promise to do even better next season.
“I am happy that the hard work we did throughout the season has been acknowledged. We are looking forward to next season, which I believe will be a fruitful one,” coach Vela Khumalo told www.kaizerchiefs.com at the conclusion of the event.
Commenting on Bohloko, who became the youngest goal scorer in DDC history during the season, Khumalo added, “It was expected. Having said that, he has set records at only 15 years of age, which is remarkable. I am delighted for him and I think it is a good choice by the people who voted for him. One day we will see big things coming from him.”
The outstanding work within the youth development structures has seen the promotion of the likes of Mduduzi Shabalala, Wandile Duba and more recently, Mfundo Vilakazi to the senior squad, proving that the Club has established a solid foundation from which to produce quality footballers for the future.
“Once again, I’m very happy to have two of our players moving up,” Khumalo beamed, “That makes six players in three years, which indicates that we are doing something right in the development academy. We are highly motivated to produce even more next season.”
Another aspect that pleased Khumalo was the widespread representation of Kaizer Chiefs players in the various national teams over the season.
