PSL Star Dreams of Playing for Bafana Bafana Despite Having Nigerian Roots

• A South African-born defender has confirmed his wish to play for Bafana Bafana ahead of the Super Eagles despite having Nigerian roots
• The Premier Soccer League star has a South African mother and has spent all his life in Mzansi, which is one of the reasons he wants to represent South Africa and not Nigeria
• There were reports about Nigeria sending a scout to South Africa to convince him to choose to play for the Super Eagles

Premier Soccer League star Ime Okon has come out to claim his wish to play for the South African national team despite having Nigerian roots.

The SuperSport United star was born in Florida, South Africa, to a Nigerian father and a South African mother and has spent most of his life in Mzansi.

The 20-year-old defender has yet to play for any international team, but he's aiming to represent Hugo Broos' team rather than his father's country.

Read also

3 PSL youngsters who deserve a move to Europe next summer

Okon dumps Nigeria for South Africa

In a recent interview with iDiskiTimes, Okon admitted that he has a Nigerian family and speaks to them a lot, but they are not pressuring him to make a decision on who to represent internationally.

"The entire Nigerian thing is that I have a Nigerian lineage. I communicate with those from Nigeria, and they also say even if people pressurise me, I must make a choice that I must be satisfied with", the SuperSport United star said.

The defender claimed he's more South African despite having Nigerian roots, and his family won't be angry if he decides to play for Bafana Bafana.

"I was born here and have spent most of my life here (South Africa). Everything I know is South African. They wouldn't be bothered if I played for Bafana Bafana. South Africa is all I know. I can hardly speak the native Nigerian language but know my roots.

Read also

Bafana Bafana star explains why he didn't sign for Kaizer Chiefs in the summer

"I'm South African, but I am also proudly Nigerian as much as I am proudly South African."

The SuperSport defender went on to confirm that it's a dream of his to don the Bafana Bafana jersey, and it's one of his mother's wishes.

"But playing for Bafana, it's been a dream; it's a big thing; my mother always said, 'one day Bafana Bafana!'" he added.

Broos explains why he punished Bafana Bafana star

Briefly News also reported that Broos said he had no choice but to punish Stellenbosch FC star Jayden Adams.

The Bafana Bafana midfielder was expelled from the South African national team due to bad behaviour, and the Belgian mentor said he had no place for players with similar traits.

Source: Briefly News