Former Orlando Pirates coach Milutin Sredojevic is delighted to see Lyle Foster flourishing at Burnley in the English Premier League.
Micho gave Foster his early break in the PSL topflight when he oversaw the Soweto giants against Maritzburg United at Harry Gwala Stadium on 15 September 2017.
“I still remember sitting in our office with our chairman Dr Irvin Khoza, with Lyle’s parents and looking to motivate and convince him to join a senior team,” recalled Micho to iDiski Times.
“He has in a way fought for himself, got his place, got his chance. It was challenging because we wanted to go double road for him to finish school and at the same moment to play football.”
The now 23-year-old was just 17 years and 12 days old at that time.
From there, Foster moved on to Europe, joining AC Monaco under Leonardo Jardim, making his debut in the Ligue 1 against Olympic Lyon in August 2019, but they lost 3-0 at home, as he came on before the second half started.
But Foster never quite established himself in France, and moved to Cercle Brugge in Belgium on loan, before Monaco sold him to Vitoria Guimaraes in Portugal.
He then moved back to Belgium to join KVC Westerlo before Vincent Kompany signed him for Burnley in January 2023, bolstering their attack to win the promotion last season.
Foster has not looked back at Burnley and has scored four goals in 13 appearances this season, becoming the first player to net an EPL goal for the club against Aston Villa in August since Maxwell Cornet scored in the last game of the 2021/22 season against Newcastle United at Turf Moor.
“I know many players that reached the English Premier League, but harsh competition and circumstances were pushing them from the top of the mountain down,” added Micho.
“Now he has reached there, it is very hard to reach, and to stay there it is even harder and this is my observation in a way.
“But I’m extremely happy because even if I see him now, I know that we will hug each other because I have fond memories, I belong to a country that likes young players.
“I remember the way I was pushing, fighting hard years coaching Nemanja Vidic, former captain of Manchester United, and he was questioned so many times that he is not for football, he is volleyball, basketball player.
“Finally, he proved and reached the level. Then people were asking ‘What did you see that others did not see?’
“I saw inside him the foundation and the rest of the things are up to the player. You bring the horse to the water but will the horse drink the water or not?”
Sadly, Foster, who recently signed a contract extension, has been dealing with mental health issues and asked not to be part of Bafana’s side in this upcoming AFCON finals.
