Michael Dokunmu making his impact at Vitesse Arnhem senior team

His father, Mike Fola Dokunmu, recently confirmed this to SABC Sport, as he revealed that his son could play a big role at Vitesse this season. Just a year after playing for Amajimbos at the U17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament in Algeria, Dokunmu Senior says his son is now establishing himself more in the senior team.

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''In the last two years soon after we returned from the Afcon he was promoted to the first team, obviously the season ended after he was promoted then, and they returned back for pre-season. He suffered an injury during the pre-season of last season, he only came back in January where he went back to the first team,'' said Dokunmu.

Dokunmu, who was one of the key players for Amajimbos in Algeria, spent more time playing for Vitesse U21 in the last six months, but he’s now expected to feature for the senior team in the new season.

''He played the majority with the under 21 the majority for the remainder of the last season and now he is fully back with the first team, they are in pre-season, they started pre-season a week ago,'' added Dokunmu. 

 The young lad, who was born in Kimberley to a Nigerian father and South African mother, looks to have made the call that his path is with Bafana Bafana. Like many players who are based overseas, Dokunmu is not receiving proper monitoring or scouting from national team coaches, especially for the new U20 and Bafana Bafana. But according to Dokunmu Senior, the attacking midfielder is committed to donning the national colors.

 ''He was proud, he was very honoured to have represented his country, and also that motivated him to give him more belief to work hard for his country. South Africa needs to start winning things, the more the elite players we have out there, the better for the country,'' concluded Dokunmu.

 Bafana Bafana’s good run at the 2023 AFCON earlier this year in Côte D'Ivoire, where they reached the semifinals for the first time in 24 years and returned with a bronze medal, excited many young players in the country and abroad. Dokunmu says his son was not an exception, as he looks to be part of the big dream going forward.