Steven ‘Stevie G’ Mendes joins Hammarby
Kaizer Chiefs announced on Thursday that Steven Mendes, known as Stevie G, has officially joined Swedish club Hammarby IF Fotbollförening.
Mendes, recognised as one the most, promising young football talents in South Africa, made a name for himself with Kaizer Chiefs, winning multiple titles with the Kaizer Chiefs Development Youth Team in the Gauteng Development League (GDL).
He joined Chiefs in August 2022 and turned out for the Amakhosi’s u15 GDL team. Earlier this season, he was promoted to Chiefs’ u17 side. He has also played for the club’s reserve team that competes in the DStv Diski Challenge (DDC).
“The 16-year-old Reserve Team player had a successful two-week trial with the Stockholm-based club from 11-25 August, and his impressive performance convinced them to sign him up immediately”, Kaizer Chiefs said in a press statement.
“Steven is a player with tremendous potential and the type of temperament to make it as a professional footballer, so we are excited at the prospect of him displaying his unique qualities on the European stage,” said the Amakhosi Sporting Director, Kaizer Motaung Jnr.
“We are proud of him and wish him every success on his exciting journey. It is another feather in the cap of the Kaizer Chiefs’ development structures, which continue to excel in cultivating the potential of young players and it demonstrates the excellent level of our academy.”
Mendes, from St Benedict’s College, has also represented South African national teams at u15 and u17 levels, getting onto the scoresheet on a number of occasions.
In the GDL, he was a defender’s nightmare, demonstrating exceptional technical skills while possessing impressively powerful shooting ability, much to the astonishment of opposition goalkeepers. Not surprisingly, because of this, he was a fan favourite.
Mendes is a strong contributor on both ends of the field, composed on the ball, and an accurate passer. His finishing is top-notch. For those reasons, he is viewed as a potential future full South African international. Playing abroad will help Stevie G further round his already impressive game.
