Former Bafana Bafana captain Thulani Hlatshwayo hopes his SuperSport United teammate Ime Okon chooses South Africa over Nigeria.
Okon is born to a Nigerian father and a South African mother, making him eligible to play for either of the two countries.
According to Hlatshwayo, the 20-year-old has yet to decide but is also considering Nigeria despite being born in Johannesburg.
“I have told him he needs to stay in South Africa because it will be difficult for him to crack the Nigeria national team,” Hlatshwayo told Nigerianewsabroad correspondent.
“To be able to crack the Nigerian national team, he needs to play in Europe — but we need him in Bafana Bafana.
“When you look at our centre backs, Mothobi Mvala has injuries, there is also Grant Kekana and Siyanda Xulu. I read Siyabonga Ngezana had an issue with his travel documents, but I don’t know what is happening there.
“His father is from Nigeria and mother from South Africa, he grew up here, he studied here and coach Gavin Hunt took him from Randburg Football Club. He is South African and he speaks Afrikaans.
“I told him I am going to stop helping him if he chooses to play for Nigeria because there are things in his game that need to be polished.
Hlatshwayo added:”The more he plays, the more experience he is going to get and he will do well. I don’t know if it has something to do with him being young but he is quick and strong and we complement one another very well.
“He is a rebel, every time there is AFCON, when Nigeria is playing he is with Nigeria and when South Africa is playing against Nigeria we have a lot of banter in the team.”
Olaitan Ibrahim