Posted in News, Youth Academy on Sep 16, 2017.
The young Glamour Boys lost their first game 3-2 to Golden Arrows last week at Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium in Clermont, KwaZulu-Natal.
“We played well,” Bongani Mabena reflects on that match. The midfielder had an excellent game. “We made a few mistakes and that cost us.”
The 20-year-old was born in Mabopane, north of Pretoria, and started playing soccer at a young age for his uncle’s side, Benfica. Later on, he was at Mamelodi Sundowns’ academy, before joining Diambars Football Academy, the now defunct academy from former French international, Patrick Vieira.
Mabena played last season for Chiefs’ Under-19s side in the SAB League.
The Arrows game was his first for Amakhosi’s Reserves side: “It felt great, especially also because of all the Chiefs fans in the stadium who were vocal in their support.”
His favourite player is the German international, Toni Kroos, who presently for Real Madrid. “I like his style of play,” Mabena explains his choice, “he’s so composed on the ball and his passing is excellent.”
Baroka drew 1-1 to Bidvest Wits in their first match for this season’s MultiChoice Diski League.
About Saturday’s match against Baroka, the midfielder adds: “We are ready to do better than last week. We want to keep a clean sheet at the back, while trying to score ourselves.”