Surname: Radebe

Age:10 years-old

School: Rea Ruta Primary School

Club: Celta Vigo Development Center FC

Talent we ought to protect

Bonga Bonga Bonga Bonga!!!

Football is synonymous with nicknames, they are often characterized by how players play or even a likeness to former football stars, remember “Chippa’ Lekoelea, ‘Sailor ‘ Tshabalala,  ‘Soul Provider’ Nale and ‘Bull’ Lehoko? just to mention a few to have emanated from the Vaal Triangle. Some nicknames are heavy to be nicknamed by, like Jomo after the legendary Ephraim Sono or  Ace after the late great Ntsoelengoe , thus it was with a lot of mystery when I heard a 10 year-old being nicknamed Dona , after one of the greatest players of all time Argentine Diego Maradona.

Often with a low sense of gravity, players who are short in physique mostly find it easy to navigate themselves. Enter Bonga Radebe, otherwise known as MAradona, the first feature you recognize about him, physically is that he is very short.  On further observation,one is able to see how intelligent he is, from pinpoint passing, off-the ball run’s to precise positioning. Another exciting attribute of the young kid is his ability to build up play and his eagerness of playing quick one twos with a goal as his end product. Boring you might say, but the kid is not a typical South African player who often showboats for the sake of it, but at the tender age of 10 years old he has grasped the concept of knowing when to showboat or just move the ball along. Already earmarked by Bidvest Wits to join their academy setup in four years time, the future looks bright. I have always been a supporter of players who show calmness in the thick of things, players who are calm with and without the ball. Bonga has that calmness, which always goes hand in hand with timing. A bit lazy as he jogs around before practice, but give him the ball and you wont blink a second, that’s how amazing he is to watch. He dreams of one day playing in the PSL, a ball juggler of note and as his name means thanks there is no doubt the Vaal Triangle will be thankful of his talents in the near future. His smile forever apparent and when passed the ball again ,and again and again by his teammates, I’m left in awe and can only join the crowd in ululating Dona, Dona, Dona!!!

Keep it up kid,preserve your anatomy and respect the game. Vaal Diski 99 wishes you progression to the biggest stadiums of the world and high echelons of world football.