SA Wonderkid Named Among World’s 60 Best Young Talents

Mamelodi Sundowns teenage sensation Siyabonga Mabena has been named among the 60 best young talents in world football on the Guardian’s Next Generation 2024 list.

Mabena, 17, made his senior debut under Rulani Mokwena in March 2023 in a 5-1 win over Royal AM – then aged 16.

He has since made 18 appearances for Masandawana, scoring once in a 3-1 win over Stellenbosch FC, with many in South Africa aware of the upcoming talent.

Mabena also wrote headlines at the COSAFA U17 Championship, scoring nine goals in five games, and was also part of the Amajita squad which recently won the COSAFA U20 Championship to qualify for the U20 Africa Cup of Nations.

At club level, Mabena won two league titles as well as the African Football League, and he has now received international recognition after making on the Guardian’s famed Next Generation list (best talents born in 2007).

Join the iDiski Times WhatsApp Channel for all latest SA football news directly to your phone.

“For South Africa, the winger made his name with a scintillating performance at the regional Cosafa Under-17 Championship in 2022, scoring nine goals in five matches,” Maher Mezahi wrote for the UK publication.

“Mabena has stayed in Sundowns’ first-team squad after Mokwena’s departure, but his role has been limited to substitute appearances.

“It surely won’t be too long before he starts making meaningful contributions at one of Africa’s best club sides – and he may be a name to look out for at next summer’s new-look Club World Cup, which will feature the Sundowns.”

Mabena finds himself among some massive talents in world football, with names like Brazilian wonder kid Estevao (17) standing out from the list. While, Mabena is largely limited to substitute appearances at Sundowns so far, Estevao is already the next superstar in the Brazilian domestic league and made his debut for the Selecao in August, while already agreeing a move to Chelsea next summer.

Meanwhile, FC Barcelona duo Lamine Yamal (17) and Pau Cubarsi (17) are among the more established names on the list, having come through Barca’s famed La Masia academy and already starring at the highest level for their club.