Sundowns’ Siyabonga Mabena named among top 60 young footballers

Another young graduate from the School of Excellence, Siyabonga Mabena, is garnering attention after being recognised as one of the world’s leading young footballers by The Guardian newspaper on 15 October.

Mabena was included in the article, titled “Next Generation 2024: 60 of the best young talents in world football“.

The selection featured notable talents, including Estêvão Willian, the 17-year-old Brazilian football prodigy, who was signed by Chelsea Football Club in June 2024 from Palmeiras. Estêvão is expected to join the Blues’ first team at Stamford Bridge for the 2025/26 season when he turns 18.

South African football enthusiasts expressed their congratulations on social media to Mabena, who made his senior debut for Sundowns, under coach Rhulani Mokwena, in March 2023, during a 5-1 win over Royal AM in a Premier Soccer League match. Mabena has made 18 appearances for the Brazilians since then.

He was a member of the South African national team (Amajita) that won the u20 Cosafa Championship in Mozambique earlier this month under coach Raymond Mdaka. When they reached the final, Amajita also qualified for next year’s u20 Caf Africa Cup of Nations.

Mabena, who was initially exposed to the broader landscape of South African football through the Gauteng Development League (GDL), while representing the School of Excellence, has won two league titles with Mamelodi Sundowns and was also part of the Brazilians’ side that won the African Football League in 2023.

Being named in The Guardian‘s prestigious Next Generation list, which showcases talents born in 2007, is another big feather in Mabena’s cap. The list also includes Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal, who has progressed through the ranks of the renowned La Masia Academy, which is renowned for producing World Cup champions, including Lionel Messi, Andrés Iniesta, Xavi, and many others.

The recognition among some of the world’s top talents is a big boost for Mabena whose ambitions will be further boosted by featuring for Sundowns, the dominant team in South African club football, which has won the Betway Premiership title for the past seven seasons.

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Siya Pongco

A passionate reader and dedicated writer, Siya possesses three degrees from Rhodes University including a Postgraduate Diploma at Rhodes University. He also played amateur cricket and soccer, both during his university years. While honing his journalism skills at Grocott’s Mail in Makhanda, he developed a profound interest in the community’s response to crime. Additionally, he covered topics such as art/culture and student politics at Rhodes University in 2022. In his spare time, Siya can be found exploring galleries, dining at restaurants, indulging in literature, taking photographs or savouring his favourite dish, spaghetti.

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