Players like Lamine Yamal (16) of Barcelona and Kobbie Mainoo (18) of Manchester United, have been so good, they even received calls to play for their respective national teams.

In the past, we have seen plenty of youngsters getting promoted to the 1st team, shining bright for a short spell, displaying weeks or months of quality, then fading away.

However, teenagers who have surfaced lately have shown that they are here to stay.

The list of such players includes, amongst others, the likes of Arda Guler (18) of Real Madrid, Warren Zaire-Emery (17) of Paris Saint-Germain, Alejandro Garnacho (19) of Manchester United and Evan Ferguson (19) of Brighton and Hove Albion.

In South Africa, we have also seen the likes of Shandre Campbell (18) of SuperSport United and the duo of Kutlwano Lethaku (17) and Siyabonga Mabena of Mamelodi Sundowns, shining for their respective teams.

Campbell's performance has been so impressive, he has won himself man of the match award for several times now.

We all know that football is a highly competitive sport, and players may experience pressure to outperform their teammates or compete for positions in the starting lineup.

The constant comparison and competition can lead to feelings of insecurity, self-doubt, and a fear of being replaced and players may encounter interpersonal challenges, such as conflicts with teammates, clashes with coaches, or difficulties adapting to different playing styles.

In the midst of everything, one hopes that all these rising stars get proper guidance and support from the powers that be, to ensure that they are well equipped with the required skills and knowledge, on and off the field, to survive the harsh and unforgiving world of professional football.

Above all, one prays that the coaches don't fall into the trap of throwing these teenagers into the deep end, just to feed their own egos, by making the headlines of being "the 16 local coach to give the youngest player his debut in professional football".