Cape Town City’s plan for Emile Witbooi is a European move – Lebogang Manyama

In an exclusive interview with SABC Sport, during the launch of the Betway Premiership in Sandton yesterday, Manyama says the Citizen’s vision for Witbooi is not just to see him playing in the Premiership Soccer League.

Witbooi was on song last night, leading Amajita to a 7-4 win over Algeria in the opening game of the FIFA U17 Talent Development Scheme (TDS) 6 Nations Tournament in Abidjan, Côte D’Ivoire.

"But I think for me for a player like him, the vision should be Europe, to push for a debut in the PSL. Yeah, if it happens, it will happen if it's meant to happen but I see him as a player that can go and do a lot of things in Europe and I think for him the earlier, the better,” Manyama said.

“That's our vision as a club to try get him there as soon as possible. Obviously trying to get him the experience also in our league because he also needs to show there what he can do."

READ: Kaizer Chiefs to hand academy product first team contract

The School of Excellence development product, who only arrived at City at the beginning of this year, as they beat strong competition from Sundowns, scored a brace against Algeria last night.

The 16-year-old had the crowd at Stade Municipale de Bingerville on their feet as he led the comeback from 3-1 down to 3-all at halftime and eventually won 7-4.

Manyama says this is standard during their training sessions.

"I cannot promise you that you will see him this season, he also needs to understand also and we also need to understand that the first team and football is a business and it's a business of results,” he added.

“As much as we wanna give him the opportunities that I think he deserves, he's shown that because he's trained the whole preseason with us. What everybody is talking about, we see it even worse in training but you also gotta be careful with him and also try not to push him too soon, I wouldn't say too soon because you never know the time. We try and help him as much as we can."