Sphephelo Sithole's agent Manuel Tomas has hailed Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos for discovering 'Yaya' and has put a spotlight on another South African in Portugal's top-flight.
Sithole is one of the few exceptions of South African players who have made it abroad without having first gone through the PSL route, after he started his professional career in Portugal via the KZN Academy.
Despite featuring in the lower leagues of Portugal for the better part of his career, the 25-year-old was given a chance to make his case for Bafana by Broos and he grabbed the opportunity with both hands, becoming one of the first-choice midfielders in the line-up.
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Tomas has shed a spotlight on another South African, Kwenzokuhle Nkanyiso Shinga, who had a similar path as 'Yaya' but has made it to the Primeira Liga after starting out in the fourth tier also from the KZN Academy.
"Shinga, now he's at Estrela Amadora. He's a South African player, the left-back. He has been in Portugal for five years, he's pushing hard. He already plays in the first league. Now everybody knows Yaya, but before no one knew him," Tomas told KickOff in an exclusive interview.
"So, with Shinga it's the same, they will see him because no one knows him. He has already been in the U23 squad. He's gonna be the next to be in the national team, this is my thought.
"It's amazing what he's doing. He comes from the fourth league to the first league. This is big news, a South African player can reach this league with hard work," he added.
"Before, Yaya was also playing in the (lower leagues) and the national team coach was very clever and they discovered the player as Yaya and brought him for such important tournaments. It's very good work from the national team."
Tomas went on to explain that the 23-year-old is ready to be given a chance at Bafana and that as his client, he's open to discussing the possibility of a South African move, if any club shows interest.
"He's ready, he's training very hard to have the opportunity. Of course it's not easy, the national team is very strong there, but Shinga is working very hard to achieve that goal, to be in the national team (just) as Yaya. It's his dream," he continued.
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"They are my clients (Sithole and Shinga), if they want to play in South Africa instead of playing in Europe, I will be with them," the Portugal-based agent said.
"But it depends because in Europe, the football is more exposed. This is their dream to play in Europe, in the top level.
"I think, if South Africa calls, we're able to discuss that of course," he concluded.
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