Bennet Mokoena agrees new Mamelodi Sundowns deal amid first-team breakthrough

Mamelodi Sundowns teenager Bennet Mokoena has agreed terms on a new contract with the club and remains fully committed to developing his career in South Africa, despite growing excitement over his emergence as the latest academy player to reach the first team.

The 19-year-old midfielder announced his potential last season by scoring 22 goals to finish as the DStv Diski Challenge’s leading scorer. His performances strengthened his case for promotion through the Sundowns ranks and marked him out as one of the country’s most promising young players.

Mokoena ended that campaign by scoring against Bundesliga side RB Leipzig during Sundowns’ end-of-season tour. That goal added to the attention surrounding him as he continued to progress within the club’s system.

He was included in Sundowns’ pre-season tour of Austria and has since featured in each of their first five matches of the new season. Three of those appearances have come as starts under head coach Miguel Cardoso, highlighting the growing trust being placed in the teenager.

iDiski Times reported that Sundowns and Mokoena had reached an agreement over a fresh contract as he moved into the next phase of his career. The publication contacted his representatives at ProSport International, with agent Mike Makaab confirming the new arrangement.

“We’ve done a new deal for him [last year], which has committed his mid-term future to Sundowns and he’s just turned 19,” Makaab told iDiski Times.

The representative said he expected Mokoena’s immediate future to remain at Mamelodi Sundowns, while also believing the player could eventually attract interest from a major club abroad if he continues to fulfil his potential.

“I see his future at Sundowns but I also see Bennet as a precocious talent, that if he makes the right progress in line with his potential, I think he can end up playing at a major football club [abroad].”

Makaab also pointed to the confidence that has helped Mokoena make an impact at senior level, while acknowledging that elements of his game still need to develop.

“He has the youthful arrogance about him – he can play in spaces; there’s things that can improve but it will come with time.”

The agent was particularly impressed by how Mokoena dealt with the pressure of playing in front of a large crowd during Sundowns’ recent match against Kaizer Chiefs.

“I was incredibly impressed with how he handled the crowd and the occasion in the recent game against Kaizer Chiefs, I’m super excited about his future – really exciting.”

Mokoena will now attempt to keep his place in the Sundowns starting line-up when they host AmaZulu at Loftus Versfeld on Wednesday evening. The match is scheduled to begin at 19:30.

The story was written by Lorenz Kohler (@Lorenz_KO).

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