Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos' eye for talent could have been praised after he selected Kaizer Chiefs defender Rushwin Dortley before he could even make his debut for the Soweto giants.
Dortley made his competitive debut for Bafana in a 2-2 AFCON qualifier draw against Uganda in early September before he could even feature for his new side having signed from Cape Town Spurs.
READ: 'Time to get the ball rolling'
Most Chiefs supporters only started to get a glimpse of the 22-year-old's qualities in a national shirt and after an impressive start for the side, he has started all the subsequent AFCON qualifiers: against South Sudan and back-to-matches against Congo-Brazzaville.
Dortley showed potential for Bafana in the most recent COSAFA Cup tournament and after his first season with the Urban Warriors ended in relegation, he was eventually signed by the Soweto giants.
SuperSport United head coach Gavin Hunt has revealed that actually he tried to sign the Western Cape-born star during his time at Amakhosi in 2021, but they had a transfer ban placed on them by FIFA.
Hunt, in a way, vindicates Dortley's selection at Bafana after he labelled him 'the best left-side centre-back in South Africa'.
"Let's be honest, he [Nasreddine Nabi] has had an effect on buying new players and obviously coming with [the technical team]. He has done a great job, I don't think they could have gone worse than last year, let's be honest," Hunt said on Chiefs' start under Nabi, in an interview on Soccerbeat YouTube Channel.
"I mean, we tried to sign Dortley. I tried to sign him three years ago, I think he's the best left-side centre-back in South Africa. He's fantastic. He made the difference against us [in the Carling Knockout].
READ: Esteghlal requests 'Piano Shoeshine' from Pitso?
"He was the best player for them. I mean, he made interceptions, blocks, headers away and he can play," Hunt raved.
Dortley has been the sole representative of Chiefs in the Bafana squad since he was called up in September.