READY TO LAUNCH

THABISO MONYANE'S FACE LIGHTS UP WHEN SOCCER CLUB REMINDS THE DEFENDER OF HOW FAR HE'S COME AS AN ORLANDO PIRATES YOUTH GRADUATE

- Mazola Molefe

In 2019, under then coach Micho Sredojevi and with Rulani Mokwena as assistant, the Orlando pirates technical team gave then junior international Thabiso Monyane his big break by adding him to the senior team's squad list for the new season.

The decision came after Monyane had just returned from the Under-23 World Cup in Poland where he had played against South Korea and Portugal, and was an unused substitute in the opener with Argentina.

During that Sredojevi and Mokwena era, the number of appearances in his debut campaign suggested his promotion wasn't just for optics.

Monyane featured 20 times in all competitions having now been converted to a pacy fullback with marauding runs down the flanks instead of the position coach Thabo Senong preferred for him at the youth World Cup - a striker.

"I am quite happy because I feel like God has set the light upon me to open the doors and help the Diski Challenge [reserve league] graduate realise it's possible [to play for the first team] regardless of your age," said Monyane, who was only 19 when Sredojevi named him in the starting lineup against Bloemfontein Celtic.

The Serbian mentor had so much faith and belief in the youngster that he left him on the pitch for the full 90 minutes.