Mamelodi Sundowns coach Manqoba Mngqithi believes his young defender Malibongwe Khoza is a good player who has a bright future and could be the next Mbulelo Mabizela. 

 The 20-year-old talented defender was promoted to the first team of Sundowns at the end of last season and he travelled with the club in their pre-season tour in Austria. 

Khoza has played five official games for Mamelodi Sundowns this season and has scored at least one goal under his name. He scored his goal against Mbabane Swallows in the second leg of the second preliminary round of the CAF Champions League. Mngqithi gave Khoza a chance in the league against Polokwane City on Wednesday as he started and finished the match. 

Mngqithi was impressed by this youngster’s performance against Rise and Shine and even said he could be the next Mbulelo Mabizela. “Mali [Khoza], I have a lot of respect for that boy and I think he’s got a lot to give,” Mngqithi said. 

“It was too much of a risk to many people to play him or to have him on the bench against Kaizer Chiefs when I don’t have some of the established center-backs. I believe he’s got what it takes, and I was fortunate to work with Mbulelo [Mabizela] when he was still in the ABC Motsepe League and I know what he had. 

“I think Mali if there’s anything short [compared to Mabizela], probably it will be a personality because Mabizela was a little bit arrogant. He believed in himself a lot, Mali is not as arrogant but he is a nice boy and sometimes in this game when you are too nice you end up not realizing your true potential. 

“But all in all, I believe he’s got a very bright future ahead of him [and could be the next Mabizela]. He has developed over time and when we played him in Austria against Aleksander Mitrovic I put him in that game of Al Hilal. 

“I was so impressed because I did this intentionally because I wanted to plant a seed in the latter stages of the CAF Champions League when we play against tall strikers that will be putting a lot of stress on him.” 

The Umzimkhulu-born coach Manqoba Mngqithi also gave an update about the injury of Rivaldo Coetzee who will be out for four weeks or more. 

“Riva’s injury is a serious injury, probably four weeks out if not more,” Mngqithi said about Coetzee’s injury. 

“He has to go for an operation and I think this coming week. That is a bad one, and I hope he will come back when we need him the most in the latter stages of the season.” 

The Brazilians will face Marumo Gallants this Sunday in the Semi-final of the Carling Knockout without Coetzee. This game will be at Dr Molemela Stadium and this is the first time for Sundowns have reached the Semi-final of this competition as they lost in the Last 16 against TS Galaxy last season.