SuperSport coach warns Hugo Broos

SuperSport United assistant coach Andre Arendse has made a rare media appearance. The subject is the club’s highly-rated Ime Okon.

SUPERSPORT UNITED ASSISTANT COACH ANDRE ARENDSE SENDS MESSAGE TO HUGO BROOS

Matstantsa a Pitori have a new superstar since Thapelo Maseko. It is the 20-year-old central defender Okon. According to the Bafana Bafana legend and SuperSport assistant, Arendse, Okon is headed for the very top.

A Nigerian father and South African mother makes Okon a citizen of both countries. Despite the Bafana provisional squad call-up in October 2023, Okon did not make the final squad, meaning he is still eligible to play for either nation.

Ime Okon in action for SuperSport United at the Peter Mokaba Stadium. Image: @iDiskiTimes/ X.

Whichever nation selects him first is where his international career will be established.

His SuperSport coach has said Bafana need to be careful of moving too slowly for the player’s services. Arendse believes Okon’s ability will surpass some of the finest Bafana defenders he had played with.

“Ime Okon is the next one on that radar. I don’t want to hype him up and put him up there and say he’s the best because he’s 20 years old, I think,” Arendse said as quoted by FARPOst.

“He’s a super talent, and I’m not even putting pressure on him because I know he can handle the pressure. He’s starting to prove it in games.

“We need to look after him. You spoke about dual citizenship. We better be careful that we don’t lose him because he’s [one for the future].

“I know what I’m talking about because I’ve 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 that in a few years, he’ll be up there or even better than those ones,” the SuperSport coach concluded.

OKON’S NUMBERS

The former Randburg FC star has picked up plenty of Premier Soccer League experience at his age.

• DStv Premiership: 18 games
• CAF Confederation Cup: Six games
• Carling Knockout: One game
• MTN8: One game
• Nedbank Cup: Zero.

INTEREST IN EUROPE

Meanwhile, Okon is also on the radar of a European club. The club’s chairman, Stan Matthews, recently confirmed huge interest from Danish club Midtjylland.

“He has been doing very well there, he’s still very young so there’s no pressure on him. And we’re not looking to move him [now],” Matthews said via SABC Sport.

“But we did want to give him an opportunity and it’s a big club like Midtjylland. You know they play [UEFA] Champions League and Europa League.

“So, when they showed interest in him, we certainly didn’t want to block that opportunity for him to go and train and play a little bit. And he’ll grow all the time and he will be a big money move certainly in the next two years for sure.

“He will progress rapidly if he keeps his head like it’s been from the start of his career. If he keeps his discipline and listening, then for sure he is going to play in Europe,” the SuperSport boss concluded.

Find more articles from Siseko Gwegwe here.