Weeks turned into months, and Mkhize's notebook was now a thick collection of observations, strategies, and carefully recorded progress for each player he followed especially Thabo. Every detail mattered: how he ran, how he passed under pressure, how he responded to mistakes.
One afternoon, a local tournament organizer approached him. "Hey… I've noticed you at all the games," the man said, eyeing Mkhize's notebook. "You really study these kids. Some of the bigger clubs could use someone like you. Ever thought about stepping up?"
Mkhize felt his heart race. He had been preparing, learning, and patiently observing. Finally, someone had recognized his dedication.
"I… I'm just learning," he said carefully. "I don't have a license yet. I'm not officially a scout. I'm just preparing for the day I can do it properly."
The organizer nodded. "I get it. But patience pays. Keep watching, keep learning. And when the right time comes, you'll be ready."
That evening, Mkhize returned to the field, notebook in hand. Thabo was waiting, practicing drills with focus and determination. Mkhize noticed subtle improvements quicker reflexes, sharper passes, and a confidence he hadn't seen before.
"You're improving," Mkhize said quietly, jotting notes. "Soon, bigger opportunities will come. And when they do, you'll be ready."
Thabo smiled, breathing heavily from the drills. "I feel it. Like I can do more, even when I'm tired."
Mkhize nodded, pride swelling in his chest. Every sacrifice, every early morning, every note in his notebook it was all starting to pay off. The dream he had imagined for years, of guiding players to greatness, was slowly becoming real, even if the official steps hadn't started yet.
That night, Mkhize wrote in his notebook:
"Persistence works. Patience pays. Every observation, every note, every effort adds up. One day, the license, the team, the official title it will come. And when it does, we will be ready."
He closed the notebook and looked out over Gauteng, the city lights sparkling like stars. For the first time, Mkhize truly believed that his dream was not just possible it was inevitable.