Ime Okon in action for SuperSport United at the Peter Mokaba Stadium. Image: BackpagePix.
Bafana Bafana at risk of losing potential superstar – Arendse
Will South Africa let Okon slip through their fingers?
Ime Okon in action for SuperSport United at the Peter Mokaba Stadium. Image: BackpagePix.
SuperSport United assistant coach Andre Arendse believes that Ime Okon is a Bafana Bafana superstar in the making. However, the national team is at risk of losing the option to select him.
Bafana Bafana superstar in the making
Okon has made 26 appearances for Matsatantsa since being promoted from the Diski Challenge side. In October 2023, Okon was mentioned as one of the five most talented teenagers in South Africa.
“Ime Okon is the next one [like Ronwen Williams] of that radar and I don’t want to hype him up and put it out there to say he’s the best because he’s 20 years old I think, maybe for a few months 19, but he’s a super talent, a super talent,” Arendse said about the defender whose been on the fringes of the Bafana Bafana team.
Super Eagles circling?
20-year-old Okon has become a fixture in the SuperSport United defence alongside Siyanda Xulu and Thulani Hlatshwayo with 18 league appearances this term. He has a Nigerian father and is eligible to represent the Super Eagles. Because he’s yet to play four matches for the senior side, he can still switch allegiance. Andre Arendse believes this would be a huge shame were that to happen. This is not a new issue, however, with Goal reporting on this back in October 2023.
“I know I’m not putting pressure on him because he can handle the pressure, he’s starting to prove it in games, we need to look after him. And you spoke about dual citizenship, we better be careful we don’t lose him, he’s one for the future,” he continued.
“I know what I’m talking about, I had the privilege of playing behind some of the best defenders in South Africa – I don’t even need to mention names, you guys know who I’m talking about and I’m telling you now in a few years time he’s going to be up there and even better than those ones.”
According to iDiski Times, Okon is being monitored by Danish side FC Midtjylland.
NGEZANA IS BACK IN THE FOLD
FCSB defender Siyabonga Ngezana is in the Bafana squad. South Africa contests friendlies against Andorra on March 21 and Algeria on March 26. Broos says 26-year-old Ngezana could be the long-term replacement for 32-year-old SuperSport star Siyanda Xulu. Ngezana has been in supreme form for the Romanian SuperLiga leaders.
“Ngezana was a point of discussion for AFCON, whether to take him with us or not,” said Broos on Monday, as he named a 23-man squad for the two games.
“He was playing very well in Romania, but he had never been with us so in the end we didn’t make the change. Now he has again been playing very well in Romania … Siyanda (Xulu) is a certain age and we have to look also to the future. If Ngezana can give us the same level he has in Romania, we could be settled again (at centre back) for the future.”
“We are a bit in trouble with strikers at the moment. I got criticism that Mayo was not at the AFCON and I said what I said and I will repeat it, I expected more progress from Mayo,” said Broos.
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