Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso has revealed how he sees the future of teenage sensation Bennet Mokoena, describing the youngster as a “nine-and-a-half” rather than a traditional striker.
Mokoena has continued to make an impression around the Sundowns first team, with his versatility and eye for goal marking him out as one of the club’s exciting young prospects.
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Following Sundowns’ 2-0 win over Milford, where Mokoena was given valuable game time, Cardoso was asked where he sees the 19-year-old developing given his ability to operate in different attacking positions.
The Portuguese coach believes there is significant potential, but stressed that Mokoena still has plenty to learn when it comes to understanding Sundowns’ collective game.
“Bennet is a player that we see with a lot of potential, it’s clear that there are still a lot of things he needs to look for on the understanding of the collective game the team plays, so that he can state himself in the level that we want him to state in the future,” Cardoso said.
The Sundowns coach pointed to the age of both Mokoena and fellow talent Siyanda Ndlovu, highlighting that patience will be important as the pair continue their development.
“But that is absolutely normal, if you see Siyanda for example, he is 22 years old, Bennet is 19, so we’re speaking about a very young player that has already stated himself at an interesting level, but a lot of work to do.”
For Cardoso, opportunities in competitive matches are crucial to accelerating that development, particularly for a young player attempting to establish himself at a club with Sundowns’ expectations.
“Obviously opportunities like [against Milford] promote that growth quicker and we know that game exposure is a high-level stimulus of development and it’s a job the coaches have to do,” he added.
“We trust, we believe – I see behind the striker, between the lines.”
‘Rather a nine-and-a-half than a nine’
It is that interpretation of Mokoena’s game that appears to give an indication of where Cardoso ultimately sees him fitting into the Sundowns attack.
While the youngster has the instincts of a goalscorer, the coach does not view him as a conventional number nine who simply occupies the penalty area.
“He is very focused on the goal, we know he is a player who can score, but if you could watch him during the last year – most of the games he was not really a number nine in a clear [sense],” Cardoso explained.
“Brayan Leon stays more in the position, that plays forward. He is a player that connects, that drops, that is the profile.
“So for us, I see him more as a nine-and-a-half – if you understand the metaphor – rather than a clear nine,” he said.
For now, Sundowns appear willing to give the teenager the game exposure needed to continue his development, while allowing him to grow into the role rather than rushing his progression.
“The main goal, he’s a good player and Sundowns has a player for the future and right now,” Cardoso concluded. “He’s been giving answers, and I think positive ones.”