Linda Mntambo Reveals What Makes Elias Mokwana Special as He Opens Up on Forward’s Remarkable Growth

Linda Mntambo has offered an insightful assessment of Elias Mokwana’s development, highlighting the Kaizer Chiefs-linked forward’s willingness to learn, adaptability and coachability as qualities that could play a significant role in determining how far he progresses in professional football.

Speaking on The CARWASH podcast, Mntambo reflected on Mokwana’s development during their time together at Sekhukhune United, explaining how the talented attacker initially arrived with plenty of natural ability but still needed to refine important aspects of his game.

According to the former Sekhukhune United captain, Mokwana possessed exceptional pace, dribbling ability and attacking instincts from the beginning. However, his early performances were sometimes characterised by inconsistent decision-making and frequent loss of possession.

Mntambo described the youngster as a rough diamond, suggesting that while his individual qualities were evident, there was considerable room for improvement in his overall approach to the game.

"And I've seen him grow at Sekhukhune. You know, [he] came in rough, you know, that rough diamond, you know, speed, dribble, but he'd lose so many balls. But one thing about him is that he's coachable. He's a sponge. He can absorb, he can listen. And that's what's going to take him far," Mntambo explained.

His comments offer an interesting perspective on the importance of mentality and willingness to improve in modern professional football.

Rather than focusing exclusively on Mokwana's technical abilities, Mntambo placed particular emphasis on the attacker's attitude towards coaching, describing his ability to listen, absorb information and implement instructions as one of his biggest strengths.

For a player operating in demanding attacking positions, these characteristics can be particularly valuable. Wingers and forwards are often required to make quick decisions, maintain possession under pressure and consistently deliver quality in the final third.

Mokwana's development at Sekhukhune United demonstrated the importance of refining his natural attacking instincts while becoming more effective in possession.

The forward subsequently attracted attention through his performances in South African football before earning opportunities beyond the domestic league, including a move to Egyptian giants Al Ahly.

His journey has also placed him under greater scrutiny, with supporters and football observers expecting him to translate his considerable potential into consistent performances at the highest level.

Interestingly, Mokwana's name has continued to feature in discussions surrounding South African football. In the November 11 edition of The CARWASH podcast, the panel also debated whether the attacker could provide a solution to Kaizer Chiefs' goalscoring concerns.

Mntambo's assessment therefore provides more than just praise for a talented footballer. It highlights an important aspect of player development that is sometimes overlooked when evaluating young talents: the willingness to learn.

While pace, technical ability and creativity can attract attention, maintaining a professional attitude and responding positively to coaching are equally important ingredients for long-term success.

Ultimately, Mntambo believes Mokwana possesses the mentality required to continue improving. If the forward consistently combines his natural abilities with discipline, intelligent decision-making and a willingness to learn, his potential could translate into an even more successful career.

For South African football supporters, the biggest question now is how much further Mokwana can develop.

Source https://x.com/Soccer_Laduma/status/2121206374163988510?a=Mp2nhue6wFdwi8xCxx4&s=19