Ex-Bafana Bafana captain, Thulani Hlatshwayo, has urged SuperSport United wonderkid, Ime Okon, to choose South Africa, his country of birth over Nigeria.
Okon was born in South Africa to a Nigerian father, making him eligible to represent the Super Eagles and the Bafana Bafana.
Though the Johannesburg-born central defender is in his debut Premier Soccer League season, the 20-year-old has become a figure in the SuperSport United defence alongside Siyanda Xulu and Thulani Hlatshwayo with 18 league appearances this season, helping the team to third place on the PSL table.
Okon has yet to publicly declare his international allegiance although Bafana coach Hugo Broos has twice before included him in his preliminary squads.
The young defender recently revealed his openness to represent either nation but the former Bafana captain has explained why he thinks the youngster should pick his country of birth over the three-time African champion.
“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 was quoted as saying by Goal.
“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 — and 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.”
The former Orlando Pirate defender added, “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,” he continued.
