Former Kaizer Chiefs winger Junior Khanye has bemoaned the lack of continuity in development football in South Africa blaming the system for how players young players get lost in it.
‘Aghahowa’ was an ambassador at the recently concluded 2024 COSAFA U17 Youth Championships staged in Gauteng.
Khanye spoke to iDiski Times about the players that have impressed him at the 2025 U17 AFCON qualifier event, with Emile Witbooi and Kamohelo Mareletse the notables saying they should be tracked and monitored from their clubs as they have potential to play for the senior team at regional level.
The iDiski TV analyst admitted that he is scared for some of the players especially the 16-year-old Mareletse, who in Khanye’s opinion, is going to have to start afresh at his club as they have a new first team coach.
“If Lamine Yamal from Spain can play for Spain and do well at the Euros, be nominated for a Ballon D’or, play week in week out as a regular player and being a key player at Barcelona, why won’t these boys like Kamo be introduced especially at COSAFA [senior men]?” Khanye told iDiski Times.
“Even [Emile] Witbooi should be introduced. The problem with South African football is lack of continuity and the problem is at club level. I mean now I’m scared for Kamo [Mareletse] at Sundowns. They have just signed a coach from Portugal, now he has to start all over again.
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“I wish Rulani [Mokwena] or Pitso [Mosimane] were there I’m sure we were going to see the boy in the near future in the Sundowns first team. Now the national team scouts would have been forced to call him, especially for COSAFA and some friendly games.
“I’m not sure if they will be called because of the system. It’s disappointing how our system works. These boys are promising, and we have seen a couple of players previously.
“There isn’t continuity and they will be lost in the system, and it will start at club level. Who is going to see Kamo in the senior team at Sundowns, the question is, is he going to believe in Kamo, will their philosophy suit Kamo?
“We have been losing boys in the system for many years.”
