SHARPEVILLE.- Tshepo Ntlaba, popularly known as ‘Bayano’, is one of the Vaal players who is expected to make a name for himself in top-flight football.

However, this talented former Mamelodi Sundowns DStv Diski Challenge (DDC) team midfield maestro is one of the players who find themselves playing in lower division leagues despite his potential.

For example, he plays in the SAFA Sedibeng Hollywoodbets Men Regional League, which is the third division league.

He is a player who can walk straight into any PSL club’s starting line-up, having grown up in Sundowns’ development structures. Ntlaba was one of the best players in the DDC at one stage, scoring goals for Sundowns.

However, he finds himself stuck in the lower division regardless of his promising talent. Sedibeng Ster Sport spotted Ntlaba when his team, Perfect Academy, beat NWU Vaal FC 4-3 over the weekend where he came in as a substitute, and you could tell he is a man who is playing at the highest level of football.

When he came in, he started to dictate the pace of the game in the middle of the park. He is one of the players who deserve to play in top-flight football. Ntlaba is one of the players that Sundowns identified during a school tournament, playing for Mohloli Secondary School in Sharpeville.

Sundowns recruited him for their development structure until he graduated to their DDC team, where he made a name for himself.

He was part of the Sundowns DDC that was crowned champions and went overseas. Speaking to Sedibeng Ster Sport, his former coach, Tebello Kheswa, believes that Ntlaba is PSL material.

He told Sedibeng Ster Sport that Ntlaba is one of the players who he feels deserve to play in PSL because of his level of development.

Ntlaba started his amateur football career with Tshepiso Barcelona FC, VUT Development FC, and Vaal Milano FC.

The above-mentioned team coach, Kheswa, was instrumental in the development of Ntlaba and many other youngsters in Sharpeville.