Young Mobara gets chance to show he's top of the class

Ajax Cape Town coach Roger de Sa hopes the versatility of his team's much talked about prospect, the 19-year-old Abbubaker Mobara, does not become a stumbling block in the player's career.

With his quality, comfort on the ball and an ability to read the game beyond his years, Mobara played at centre back, right back, and in defensive and attacking midfield for De Sa in a breakthrough season in professional football in 2013-14.

His class has been noticed, even if winger Keagan Dolly, two years Mobara's senior, has drawn more headlines, having won the PSL young player of the season award.

De Sa admires his youngster's talent, though does admit concern that Mobara might need to settle on a position he can master.

"He's young, he's already played a full season and he's not just a squad player," the coach said.

"He's an athlete. The one thing about him is he's so versatile, and that's almost the problem. It's why we have played him around so much.

"I just hope his versatility is not his downside, because he might be too versatile and then a jack of all trades and master of none."

Mobara sees himself playing centre back, the position he earned a reputation for at junior level, where he was groomed for 11 years, since he was eight, in the Ajax youth system.

"You see everything there and my anticipation is a strength," the player said.

De Sa is not so convinced. The coach fears Mobara might lack the size for a central defender, and his work rate might be wasted there.

"I played him at centre back and he wasn't quite as good as I wanted," the coach explained. "His best role has been midfield because he's got such a good engine. And he's a fantastic footballer as well.

"I don't think he's the right size for a centre back. But he's perfect for an international sort of midfielder, without a doubt. When he plays at the back, he plays - he doesn't just kick the ball around. He'll even drop his shoulder from the backline and go past somebody, no problem.

"Then, obviously, he's got all the Ajax development in him. Football-wise he's got it all."

Mobara has returned from a tour to the Netherlands for the Ajax under-19s, playing in two competitions and losing in the semifinals to two Brazilian sides - Fluminense, then Cruzeiro on penalties, in the Copa Amsterdam.

"I wouldn't say we were robbed, but we were unlucky against Cruzeiro. I was one of those who missed my penalty. In the first tournament, against Fluminense, we should have won - they had one shot on goal and scored and we had the better chances."

De Sa arrived at a tricky time at Ajax, who were in a rebuilding phase and reeling from boardroom ructions.

After Muhsin Ertugral's departure, the former Orlando Pirates coach took over a team struggling in the bottom half and only managed a 12th-place finish. He believes Ajax's youngsters will surprise people this season.

"I watched the under-19s in Amsterdam and there were six of my senior-team players there. We'll probably promote three or four more, so we'll have about 11 players under 20 - and they all deserve to be there.

"I'm hoping players in their second season develop. People say they're young - they are, but they're also 30 games old. Halfway through the season that will be 45 or 50. And you get an energy with youth."

Mobara believes forward Tashreeq Morris and midfielders Tariq Losper and Travis Graham are players to watch out for. "They're all in the calibre to be where the top players are," he said.

The kid from Princeton High School in Woodlands, Mitchell's Plain - which he attended after his brother, Shaheed, 24, a player for First Division Vasco da Gama - looks a polished stone among rough diamonds.

Sensibly, despite the attention from big teams, including Kaizer Chiefs, Mobara is staying put for at least a season at Ajax.

"I think we have enough quality to even challenge.

"Inshallah [God willing], this will be a good season for us," he said.