One of the SAFA SAB National Championships’ most recent graduates Teboho Mokoena is within touching distance of a winner’s medal in one of the country’s biggest cup competitions.

From representing his province of Free State in the 2015 edition of the SAB U21 National Championships, Mokoena has in just two years developed into one of the country’s most talented and promising players.

Not only is he making waves with SuperSport United, where he is a regular starter in a midfield that has seasoned campaigners like former Bafana Bafana midfielder Reneilwe Letsholonyane and current Bafana anchorman Dean Furman, Mokoena is also a key player in the national U20 team.

The 20-year-old from Bethlehem reflected on his time in the 2015 edition of the SAB National Championships, while giving valuable advice to the youngsters that will be taking part in a tournament that will kick-off next month.

“I have had a great year and the cherry on top for me would be winning the Nedbank Cup. But when I look at everything else, I remain grateful to what the SAB U21 National championships did for me. That is where it all began. Not only was I introduced to football at a more competitive level, I had the opportunity of being part of the national U20 team, played under quality coaches, received life skills coaching and eventually made the move to SuperSport,” the current SuperSport United player said.

“This is why I always get excited when the tournament approaches because I know someone with the same dream and hunger that I had might also be as lucky as I was through the tournament. But the trick is always to do what you know, work hard, but also avoiding to try too hard to impress because that can lead to many mistakes” Mokoena said.

USSA Football will be the tournament’s defending champions this year after they managed to win the trophy last year in Polokwane.