Kaizer Chiefs veteran midfield Thabo Mooki, who has spent his entire 15 season professional career with The Amakhosi has through the years seen a number of young players come and go through the ranks at Chiefs.

A number of these were unable to make the grade, while many other could not take the pressure of being at a team with a high profile like Chiefs has, while a very select few have been able to stand the test of time.

Since making his debut for Chiefs in 1994 as a nineteen-year-old Mooki has matured as a player both on and off the field and has largely throughout his career made headlines for all the correct reasons and twice won the Chiefs player of the year award.

Mooki who is second on the all time appearance list at Chiefs behind Doctor Khumalo, believes that the hardwork being done by Chiefs latest nineteen-year-old recruit, Mandla Masango will help to ensure that the young attacking midfielder who scored on his official Chiefs debut on the opening day of the season when The Amakhosi defeated Benoni Premier United, has a long and trophy laden career at Chiefs.

Good work ethic

Masango who joined Chiefs in the off season from amateur team Walter Stars has according to Mooki got the correct attitude to go far in football, as he is a good listener and hard worker, that coupled with his obvious talents has placed Masango in a position to achieve lofty heights at The Amakhosi.

Mooki commenting on the role that Masango could play in the future success at Chiefs added “Mandla I believe is the kind of player who can go far in the world of football, he is the kind of younger player who you enjoy having in your team as he is a good listener and is willing to take advice from senior players”. Masango’s ability to listen and heed the advice of his elder and experienced teammates has aided his development and acclimatization to becoming an integral member of the Chiefs set up. Mooki further added “when you young things can some times seem a bit daunting when you come to a team like Chiefs, Mandla has used the resources around him and as a result has easily met the challenges that faced him a few months ago”.

Veteran had

While Mooki has stated that it is important for a young player to use the experience of the older players in his team to guide him, it is also up to the older guys to reach down and stretch out a helping hand to the new recruits. “Down the years and with time we have learnt that for the good of the club the older players need to step up to the plate and help the new players, I think that a number of the older guys the likes of Cyril Nzama, Shaun Bartlett, Arthur Zwane and myself have been affording advice to the likes of Mandla Masango, Sandile Zuke and Tsehpo Bulu. We need to make these boys feel welcome in the team, which I believe we have, as they are the future of Chiefs. Also we need to use our years of experience to help prevent them from making the same mistakes that we did in our careers”.