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Bloemfontein Celtic reserve side coach Abram Nteo believes his understanding with first-team coach Steve Komphela is why players such as Tshegofatso Mabaso and Neo Maema thrive.
Nteo said he was grateful to Komphela for slowly introducing some of his graduates.
“I want to thank coach Steve because he allows us to work with him. We sometimes attend first-team training so we understand his vision and he understands ours.”
The erstwhile Celtic player said every time young players are blended into the senior team, it gives him pleasure and shows that he is doing the right thing,” Nteo said.
“Every time I see these boys [Tumelo] Mangweni, Maema and Mabaso doing well in the first team, I become very proud because they are our products from the development side.”
Mabaso has already played 10 games for the senior team in all competitions this season; Maema has a total of three under his belt; and Mangweni has featured in two.
He believes his graduate Mabaso will continue scoring for the senior team. Mabaso is one of the leading Absa Premiership goal-scorers with four goals alongside Kaizer Chiefs’ Khama Billiat, Orlando Pirates midfielder Vincent Pule, and SuperSport United forwards Evans Rusike and James Keene.
Mothobi Mvala of Highlands Park is another player with four goals.
“We are happy to see the young boy doing marvellous things by being one of the league’s top scorers. Mabaso is a good striker. It’s helpful also to keep on banging them in because, when a striker doesn’t score many goals or misses chances, he becomes demoralised.”
Mabaso scored a brace against Bidvest Wits in an Absa Premiership match at Bidvest Stadium to guide his team to a 2-1 win before the international break.
The win took Celtic to position three on the log with 20 points from 10 games. They now trail log leaders Orlando Pirates by three points and have played three fewer games than the Buccaneers.
Nteo said that, with the help of Komphela, Mabaso would be able to score more goals.
“He will definitely score more goals this season because the players are creating great chances for him.”
The coach also tipped Mabaso for a Bafana Bafana berth.
“He is still young and just needs to concentrate on performing consistently, and then he can be a brilliant player for Bafana as early as next year.”
Nedbank Keyona Team graduate Nkanyiso Nene, who was training with Kaizer Chiefs, signed a contract with the Mamelodi Sundowns reserve team this week.
