The youngster will be playing in South Africa’s second tier after impressing during trials.
Seboledi Mphahlele was among the players unveiled by Baroka FC ahead of the 2024/25 second-tier season.
The 16-year-old attacking midfielder is the son of the Bakgakga boss Khurishi Mphahlele. The teenager was unveiled alongside Siphelele Mthembu who joined from Pretoria Callies and former Sekhukhune United player Collins Makgaka.
The youngster had been playing for Diphuti FC before taking part in the Baroka trials held recently.
‘He was not selected by me' – Mphahlele clears the air
Some fans may have felt Baroka boss had influenced the technical team led by Morgan Mammila to go for his son, but he has now denied the allegations.
“He was not selected by me, but was selected by the coach, the players, the technical team, and the supporters. So everybody was happy with him during the trials,” Mphahlele told the media.
“I did not tell them he is my son. I was actually sitting with some of the supporters from Baroka, who happen to own a local football club.
“Where we were sitting, he was always mentioning him, and when the trials ended, that’s when he knew that the boy he was mentioning was my son. So he is here on merit; he is not here because he is my son. But he can play good football.”
Another Kaizer Motaung Jr. in the making?
Seboledi joins sons of bosses like Kaizer Motaung Jr. who played for Kaizer Chiefs from 2003 to 2014 where he made more than 100 appearances.
He then joined the university after his playing career and graduated with a bachelor of commerce degree. Motaung Jr. has since been serving as the club's Sporting Director since 2021.
Khurishi Mphahlele insists his son has what it takes to deliver at Baroka, “We are not doing it a favour, we just want to do him nicely,” he continued.
“He is on that level, he is similar to Lamine Yamal. My son is on that level, he is a similar type of player.
Why did Baroka re-sign former players?
Among the players signed by Bakgakga are Collins Makgaka, Bonginkosi Makume, Abdi Banda and Olaleng Shaku who had initially played for them.
Mphahlele has now justified the club's decision, “Football is like family; when your son comes back home, you can’t chase him away,” he stated.
“We welcome them all, some come with injuries but we will nurse them to be fit. We will help them take their football to the next level because this is their career, and we are happy to have them back.
“They are all good, I must say. Some were playing in the Premiership and some in the [second-tier]. So we are happy to have them here. I know they are going to add quality.”
