The ball is now bouncing in Adonis’ court
Duncan Adonis has a mix of Serero’s Diski skill, Pienaar’s intelligence and Benni’s arrogance, writes Rodney Reiners.
|||Cape Town - Football talent in the Mother City needs no introduction, it’s a given. Year after year, highly-skilled youngsters emerge from all parts of the Cape. But, while there’s no doubting their ability, often the kids are let down by a fragile mentality.
Success in sport is not just about talent, it’s also about sacrifice and commitment, about dealing with pressure, keeping at bay the lure of outside influences, and keeping the feet firmly planted on the ground. As a result of not handling these aspects, many a promising Cape youngster has failed to live up to their potential.
Cape Town City, though, believe they have the next big thing to hit South African football in 17-year-old Duncan Adonis.
The new Mother City PSL club, established after John Comitis purchased the PSL franchise of Mpumalanga Black Aces, have, in a short space of time, put together a competitive squad. In addition to 14 players from last season’s Black Aces squad and a coterie of experienced Europeans, Comitis and City head coach Eric Tinkler have also added five Cape youngsters to the mix - Adonis, Shaquille Abrahams, Ebrahim Seedat, Samora Motloung, and Never Ngcuka.
Adonis has Comitis very excited. In fact, the football boss believes that, if things go according to plan, if Adonis develops and matures as he expects the player to, then South Africa could very well be looking at the next Thulani Serero.
Serero set the PSL alight during his time at Ajax Cape Town (when Comitis was one of the part-owners of the Cape club) and, subsequently, landed a transfer to Ajax Amsterdam in the Netherlands.
“Duncan has a tremendous future,” said Comitis. “He reminds me a lot of Serero. In fact, I think he has a mix of Serero’s Diski skill, (Steven) Pienaar’s football intelligence and Benni’s (McCarthy) arrogance.
“I have nursed Duncan from the age of 14 when I first spotted him playing centre-back for Milano United in the Second Division league. He has grown from strength to strength and I’m confident we will see him in the City starting line-up very soon.”
Adonis has tons of ability, of that there’s no doubt. He’s a central midfielder, but he’s so talented he’s the type of footballer that can adapt to any position he’s selected. And this is why Comitis was so impressed when Adonis, at the tender age of 14, was performing with aplomb among seniors in the regional Second Division.
From Hout Bay, Adonis has long been tipped for success at the top-level of the sport. His junior career was spent at clubs like Milano, Hellenic and FC Cape Town. Comitis assumed responsibility for the youngster’s progress while spending a few seasons as a director at First Division FC Cape Town. But, now that the experienced administrator has formed his own club, Adonis is on the fast-track to PSL exposure. And Comitis expects the kid top make a huge impact once he breaks into City’s team.
“I’m really excited to have an opportunity to play in the PSL,” said Adonis. “I’ve always wanted the opportunity to be a professional footballer, and that is what I have achieved now. I’ve always placed my trust in John Comitis (City owner) and allowed him to look after my career.
“Now that City have been established, it’s my big opportunity at this level, and I want to make the most of it. Obviously, because I’m young, I will have to be patient, but we’ll see how it goes.”
The 14 players retained from last season’s Black Aces squad will provide the backbone for City’s debut campaign in the PSL. The young Cape contingent will be brought on slowly, while the overseas players will have to adapt quickly if the new club is to make an immediate impression on the PSL.
The new players City have signed include Lehlohonolo Majoro and Tshepo Gumede (both from Orlando Pirates), Austrian Roland Putsche, Australians Matt Sim and James Brown, Latvian Renars Rode and the well-travelled Robyn Johannes.
Adonis is fitting in nicely and learning from his new teammates.
“The City squad is great,” said Adonis. “I think there are some really good players here. We have been working together and everybody has been giving me advice about what to expect. I’m comfortable at the club. The coach (Tinkler) is easy to approach and he has also been very good at offering me information and advice on how to go about things in the PSL.”
But the ball, as they say, is now in Adonis’ court. The ability is there and many have high hopes that he can deliver on his potential. But it’s not always that simple: The hard work for the teenager starts now.
Weekend Argus