Bafana Bafana icon Nasief Morris has revealed which footballer he thinks is the best in the world right now.
The retired footballer made over 30 caps for Bafana, featuring sporadically for his country between 2004 and 2009.
Impressively, he enjoyed a decade abroad between 2001 and 2011, representing clubs in Greece, Spain, and Cyprus.
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During his stint in in Greece, he completed a cup double in 2004, winning the league title as well as the Greek Cup. In the 2005/06 season, the Cape Town-born ex-defender came up against Lionel Messi for the first time, helping his side Panathinaikos keep a clean sheet in a 0-0 draw with Barcelona.
Their second meeting went in the favour of the Argentine great though, as Barca claimed a 5-0 win over the Morris' Greek side, with Samuel Eto'o scoring a hat-trick to add to goals by Messi and Mark van Bommel.
Nevertheless, Morris now coaches youngsters in Mitchell's Plain with the aim of giving them better opportunities to become professional footballers. He exclusively spoke to KickOff during a LALIGA FC Futures event on Thursday.
Asked who he thinks is the best in the game right now, the now 42-year-old said: "One player I really admire - and I am not a City fan, it is Rodri.
"I think its been proven that when he doesn't play, City doesn't function. A lot of people that number six role and how important it is in a team.
"He is the link between attack and defence and vice versa.
"We've seen the amount of goals he has scored, the assists, breaking down attacks, and for me, he is an incredible player."
Morris' sentiments on Rodri have also been similarly echoed by Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand, who admitted earlier this week that the Spaniard can be considered an all-time great in his position in the Premier League.
Ferdinand told TNT Sports: "I think he's definitely in the conversation. I think he could be. His importance to this Man City team is probably the definitive factor.
"The best ones I've played with were [Michael] Carrick and Owen Hargreaves, but I think sheer importance for the team… when he's out the team, they get beat. It's as simple as that."
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