Naledi Hlongwane expresses his strong ambition in Bafana Bafana!

The 20-year-old player aspires to many things.

Naledi Hlongwane expresses his strong ambition in Bafana Bafana!

The recent infusion of youthful talent into the South African national team has not gone unnoticed at Kaizer Chiefs, where a new prospect is daring to dream. Naledi Hlongwane, the 20-year-old who earned promotion to Amakhosi's senior squad this season, has set his sights on a future with Bafana Bafana, inspired by the breakthroughs of his peers.

Watching other young players become pivotal figures in the national set-up has lit a fire within Hlongwane, who has already made his Betway Premiership debut. He now believes that what others have achieved is a blueprint for his own ambition.

“I could say, now we’re in the modern football in these days. So, us youngsters are the ones who are contributing a lot into football,” Hlongwane stated, reflecting on the shifting landscape. This new reality serves as a powerful motivator for him. “It pushes me also to want to do it. I’m like if they could do it, why I can’t? So, you have to ask yourself, if not now when?”

His philosophy is one of immediate action tempered by patience. He emphasizes the importance of starting the journey now without expecting instant gratification. “So, you mustn’t think that you will do it tomorrow, you must start [working towards] it now, so you’ll benefit in the future.”

Acknowledging that every player's path is unique, Hlongwane concluded with a mature perspective on his own development. “What you do today will have results in future. If you have had an extra individual training of two months you mustn’t expect rapid results. It takes time, we don’t have the same journey, you have your path, I have my own.”