With a little patience and faith shown in him, Boitumelo Radiopane has the potential to become the next Lyle Foster at Orlando Pirates.
But it seems like Orlando Pirates have no faith in their development products.
A lot of them have fallen by the wayside, some of them are playing kasi football, while a few, who can count themselves lucky, are out on loan.
Boitumelo Radiopane is one of the ‘lucky’ few, out on loan with Cape Town Spurs.
He is by far one of the brightest prospects in South African football, with more than the potential to reach Lyle Foster’s heights, yet it seems like he is not good enough for Pirates.
Also Read: Will Lyle Foster Succeed At Burnley?
Radioman, as he is famously known in football circles, did everything a youngster could do to be given a fair chance in the senior ranks.
He won the golden boot twice in the DDC league, scoring twenty-four goals in twenty-seven matches in his last reserve league season.
Not only did he win the golden boot, but he also walked away with the player of the season award, beating Mduduzi Shabalala to win the prestigious accolade.
While Shabalala has gone on to feature for Kaizer Chiefs senior team, Radiopane was shipped off to Cape Town Spurs, apparently to continue with his development, as Jose Riverio alluded to the media a few weeks ago.
“I don’t like to speak about players individually, especially if it is a player that is not in the current squad. Radiopane is a Pirates player, and hopefully soon, he will play,” said Riveiro.
“And I think he is doing a good job after a long period out due to an injury. I don’t know the [Cape Town Spurs] coach, but I know that he is a good coach [Shaun Bartlett] who can help him a lot in his development there. That’s the reason why he is there.”
Amabhakaniya has struggled for goals in recent times, which has led to them enlisting the services of a strikers coach, Scott Chickelday. On top of that, they signed Cameroonian forward, Souaibou Marou and Ndumiso Mabena.
One would have thought they would consider giving Radiopane a chance.
Even Shaun Bartlett, a former goal poacher of note, and current Spurs head coach believe the 21-year-old has something special.
“I know what talent he is, I know the ability he’s got. I’m looking forward to the next 18 games to see him more on the field. I think he’s got at least 10 goals in him.
“He’s got that ability; he’s got an eye for goal, which I think not many players in this league or in this country to be honest have.
“I’m looking forward to working with him for the next five months,” Bartlett told iDiski Times.
But that is not what Pirates believe in; they seem more interested in signing foreign nationals, who more often than not, turn out to be huge flops.
Radiopane can only hope that his recent performances in Cape Town, which include a stunner he scored against Tuks to send his side into the Nedbank Cup last 32, as well as a brace recently against uThongathi, will convince his parent club to call him back and give him a fair chance.
If Mamelodi Sundowns can believe in Mailula, and Chiefs in Shabalala, what stops Amabhakaniya from believing in their own best development products?
One day we will find the answers.
