Rodney Ramagalela believes Emile Witbooi will soon earn a call-up to the senior Bafana Bafana squad. The former Mamelodi Sundowns striker has publicly endorsed the Cape Town City FC teenager, citing his talent and maturity as reasons he will become a valuable national team asset.

Ramagalela was effusive in his praise for the young midfielder. "Yoh! I’ve watched that boy; a very good player, very talented, very good understanding of the game," he said. He added his firm belief that under coach Pitso Mosimane, Witbooi's time will come. "He is one player I am looking forward to seeing at Bafana, and I believe with coach Pitso very soon he will be there and he will be a very good asset for the national team."

Witbooi stays for guided growth

Despite attracting transfer interest, Witbooi has remained with Cape Town City FC to prioritise regular game time and long-term development. Ramagalela pointed to the influence of seasoned veteran Surprise Ralani as key to this decision. "I am happy that he is getting the right guidance from his father, Surprise Ralani." Ramagalela stated. "That’s why you see him he is still there at Cape Town City that says a lot about the advice he is getting."

This patient approach aligns with the club's current phase, as they sit sixth in the First Division standings with eight points from five matches. Their recent form includes two wins, two draws, and a loss, with the next challenge a home fixture against The Bees on 11 October. Fans can track the team's progress on our fixtures and standings pages.

A rising international trajectory

Witbooi's potential has been evident on the international stage for years. He has represented South Africa at Under-15, Under-17, and Under-20 levels. His contributions were instrumental in helping the national U20 side qualify for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations via the COSAFA Cup. More recently, he has been involved with the South African Under-23 side, featuring in exhibition matches in Algeria.

Ramagalela advised against rushing the youngster, emphasising a steady build-up. "You don’t want to confuse the young man because he is playing well; you want to build him to be a very good player without confusing him into thinking he can play there; he must go there," he explained. He is confident a major move will happen at the right moment. "When the time comes for him to move from Cape Town City, it will happen, and it’s gonna be a very great move for him."

For now, Emile Witbooi continues his development within the Cape Town City FC setup, aiming to add a senior Bafana Bafana cap to his growing list of age-group honours. The club's full squad details are available online.

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