Former Bafana Bafana captain Thulani Hlatshwayo has revealed his message to highly rated youngster Ime Okon, who is yet to choose between representing Nigeria or South African.
The future of Okon has been the subject of heavy speculation with the defender's progress growing in leaps and bounds. The 20-year-old has grown to be a key feature for SuperSport United this season, already boasting 27 appearances in both local and continental competitions.
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However Okon still has a tough decision to make in choosing whether he will represent the Nigeria – the birth country of his father or South Africa – the birth country of his mother, where the centre-back was born and raised.
His teammate, Hlatshwayo has revealed that that he has urged the youngster to choose his country of birth.
"I've already told him he needs to stay in South Africa," Hlatshwayo told journalist this week at the Player Transition Programme graduation ceremony.
"It's difficult for him to crack into the Nigerian national team, he needs to play in Europe to get in there. And we need him in team, when you look at our centre backs, [Mothobi] Mvala with the injuries, Grant [Kekana], Siyanda [Xulu],I read a bit about [Siyabonga] Ngezana with the documents (Missed out on latest Bafana camp due to kissing documents).
"His (Okon) father is from Nigeria and his mother is from South Africa. Ime grew up here, studied here because Gavin [Hunt] took him from Randburg.
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"So, Ime has been South African, he also speaks Afrikaans and I told him that: 'Ime you are a South African.
"I told him that he is South African and that the team needs him, otherwise I will not help him because there's a few things that needs to be polished – but the more he plays, the more experience he will get."
Okon will get his next chance to impress and when SuperSport take on Lamontville Golden Arrows on 3 April.
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