Siyabonga Mabena: the South African striker part of Sundowns' golden generation
The 16-year-old recently got his first call-up to Sundowns. He starred in the U17 AFCON. Here's what to know.
PRETORIA, South Africa - Siyabonga Mabena has been heralded as South Africa’s next big talent. With his small build, surprising acceleration, and shifty dribbling, he has earned comparisons from late Sundowns winger Gift Leremi to Chelsea’s Raheem Sterling. The best part? He’s only 16. He wowed in the COSAFA U17 Championship, scoring nine goals in five games to get both the top scorer award and best player award. Mabena joined Sundowns after courting offers from both the Brazilians and Orlando Pirates and was promptly placed in Sundowns’ U19 squad as a 15-year-old.
Mabena recently made his senior Sundowns appearance when he played 13 minutes in Sundowns’ 5-1 romp over Royal AM. Since then, he’s played nine minutes against Cape Town and 15 against Golden Arrows.
In the Zulu language, Siyabonga means we thank you. Viewers and fans all over South Africa can surely thank him for the entertainment he brings every game. He darts past defenders like an arrow fixated on its target, the goal. He turns past defenders with his sneaky right foot, he controls and intercepts passes superbly with his left. He’s a great dribbler, and paired with his speed and slippery movement, he is already a very dangerous winger.
Mabena impressed in three AFCON U17 games with South Africa. He got an assist in South Africa’s rollercoaster 3-2 win against Zambia, when he received the ball with his back to the goal, turned under pressure, and hit a pinpoint chip over the defense to Vicky Mkhawana.
Then he scored an amazing solo goal against Nigeria to give South Africa the lead in a do-or-die game against Nigeria U17, starting from the half-way line and sending a defender to his knees before weaving his way through the Nigeria back line untouched and rocketing a big shot into the underside of the goal and past the line.
He’s part of a very exciting golden generation of South African talents, and even though they didn’t get past the group stage of AFCON U17, you will likely see more of them in the coming seasons. He’s a name you need to know going into next season as he fights for play time in the Champions League with more experienced players. Here’s what you need to know.
What to Know
Mabena usually plays on the left, often as a left-winger. However, South Africa U17 manager Duncan Crowie’s fluid tactics means Mabena can be as deep as a left-back, helping to build out of the back in possession, or up top pressing as a center-forward, or sitting deep as a wide midfielder. He prefers using his right foot and plays as an inverted winger most of the time, slashing down midfields from the outside and sometimes getting the ball in the heart of the midfield.
He fits right in hand with Sundowns’ play style. He has lots of flair and style, with his quick and aggressive dribbles and twitchy, fast movement. He’s also a decent defender. He closes out defenders to force long balls in the press, and he can tightly mark his opponents out of possession. He reads the game well, has a great finishing touch, and is a very effective playmaker in the final third, even though he really thrives outside the box.
Mabena reminds me a lot of Raheem Sterling, not only because of their physical similarities, but because of how they play. They rely on their technicality to get them through the final third. Mabena places a bit less emphasis on scoring rather than creating chances, unlike Sterling, who regularly makes runs towards the goal and actively gets in the box.
South Africa U17 2, Nigeria U17 3
Mabena and South Africa U17s put on a thriller on Saturday against Nigeria. Mabena himself shone, getting 48 touches, completing 87% of his 23 passes, getting three tackles, and scoring a goal.
Unlike many high, advanced wingers, Mabena drops deep in South Africa’s tactics, down to the opposing corner flag. When he was in attack, the Transnet School of Excellence product did not like to stay very wide, instead cutting inside, hitting the opposite flank, and going for goal rather than aiming for crosses. He was everywhere in possession, which makes sense; he’s super confident when he’s on the ball, even when facing pressure from defenders.
He looks most effective in the half-spaces, much like Bilal El Khannouss at Genk. He’s not an out-and-out, dribble past the touchline and back player, but someone who tries to involve himself in the build-up of the play. That makes him a good playmaker.
As established before, Mabena is a solid dribbler, and he used that skill perfectly against Nigeria with this stunning solo goal.
https://twitter.com/sahil_e/status/1654937000133156866
On defense, Mabena is always aggressive. He moves quickly and presses doggedly, latching onto his defender like a leech.
The Schedule
It will be back to the PSL for Mabena as South Africa U17s were mathematically eliminated following their 3-2 loss to Nigeria U17s. Mabena can expect to see more play time; Sundowns has already clinched the Premier Soccer League title, and Mabena is more than ready to take on the job.
Sundowns will be more preoccupied with taking on Wydad in the CAF Champions League, as they face Maritzburg on May 16 in their regular season finale. With star attackers like Cassius Mailula, Peter Shalulile, Neo Maema, Themba Zwane, and Thapelo Morena, Mabena is unlikely to get any play time in the Champions League.