Mamelodi Sundowns forward Musawenkosi Mdhluli admits that ‘life hasn’t been smooth’ but isn’t intimidated by the pressure that comes with playing for the senior team.

The 21-year-old became the latest in a long line of youngsters to graduate from the academy to the senior team.

The Gauteng-born attacker is yet to make his debut for the first team, but has been named in their 18-man squad on two occasions.

Mdhluli has been a revelation with the Masandawana reserve side and has put in some breathtaking performances in the DStv Diski Challenge before it was suspended.

‘Life hasn’t been smooth, mainly because of all the new adaptations and being in the new environment but it has been an interesting journey so far. I appreciate the opportunity that has been given to me,’

‘The difference between reserve team football and senior team is mainly the tempo, because now you’re surrounded with players who are more talented and have more qualities than you and who are quicker, faster and stronger, so the tempo and the intensity will change. Those are the main differences between the two.

‘What I’m working hard on is to try to get to the level of their tempo and intensity and to try and understand how the team plays and what’s required for me to be amongst the rest.

‘No, I don’t feel intimidated by them but as a young boy, you’re bound to be starstruck in the beginning but once you get used to training and travelling with the players, you realise that they’re human too and it feels good to be around them because you get to learn from them and some share with you how they got to the level that they’re at. So it’s truly a blessing to be around them. Because like they say: “Sometimes inspiration isn’t far-fetched”,’ he concluded.