Mamelodi Sundowns spotlighted forward Sphelele Mkhulise to get to know the 23-year-old Sundowns youth product from Pietermaritzburg.

Coach Pitso Mosimane, an avid fan of Mkhulise, has turned many raw talents into refined performers – all of them Premier Soccer League player-of-the-season nominees or winners including Bongani Zungu‚ Percy Tau and Keagan Dolly.

Mkhulise came through the ranks at the Sundowns academy and, like Tau, had to go away on loan to get some game time and gain experience at Black Leopards.

He did so in the 2016-17 season before joining Richards Bay the following year, which he believes was the turning point in his career.

The youngster has broken into the Brazilian first team this season, having featured in the starting XI that lifted the Telkom Knockout trophy back in December.

‘He reminds me of how Percy came up, and you know I’m a conservative coach. I probably would have kept Percy a bit longer. Even with Bongani Zungu and Keagan Dolly I said: one more year [before their move to Europe],’ Mosimane said.

‘Even Percy was sent away on loan and came back as a better player and became a regular in the first team.’

Catch the full interview on Mamelodi Sundowns official YouTube channel: