As Baroka FC get ready to battle it out in the Motsepe Foundation Championship, club boss Khurishi Mphahlele has defended the signing of his 16-year-old son to the first team.
Mphahlele's son Seboledi Mphahlele, an attacking midfielder, was among the 11 players confirmed by the Limpopo-based outfit ahead of the new season.
Defending the decision to sign the grade 11 learner, Mphahlele stated that his son was signed based on merit and had to go for trials like everybody else.
"He was not selected by me. He was selected by the coach, players, technical team, and supporters. Everyone was happy with him during the trials. I did not tell them that he was my son," Mphahlele said.
Mphahlele also added that his son was a good football player and caught the attention of many fans during the trials.
"I was sitting with one of the old supporters of Baroka FC who happens to own a football club here. When we were seated he was also always mentioning him and when the conversation ended that is when he knew that the boy he was mentioning was my son.
"So he is here on merit and not here because he is my son but he can play good football,".
With his move to sign for his family-owned team, Seboledi Mphahlele joins other players such as Andile Mpisane, Kaizer Motaung Junior, and Bamuza Sono as players who have played professionally for their family’s club.
IOL Sport