Mokotjo knuckles down to business

MIDFIELDER Kamohelo Mokotjo is looking forward to a long career with Bafana Bafana after his citizenship saga was resolved late last week.

The 26-year-old did not immediately reapply for his SA citizenship when he took up one with the Netherlands late last year‚ making him ineligible to play for Bafana.

But he retained his SA citizenship on Friday after reapp which was granted by Home Affairs and was then able to play in the 3-1 win over GuineaBissau at the weekend.

Mokotjo said it is time to move on and focus on what he does best‚ which is dominating play in the centre of the park.

“The outcome [of reapplying] was positive‚ so I can’t complain‚” said Mokotjo.

“For my personal game‚ I kept it clean and neat [against GuineaBissau]. I played a lot of positive passes and that’s more my game – I’m about efficiency and results.

“I’m not a show-boater‚ so I did what I had to do. I gave a clear picture of the type of player I am and that won’t change going forward.”

The FC Twente midfielder said he hopes that the national team can build on their performances from the friendlies to do well in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers.

“We have a vision we are working towards and that’s qualifying for the [2019 African] Nations Cup and [2018] World Cup. For me‚ it is the beginning‚” he said.

Mokotjo‚ who was born in the Free State‚ took up Dutch citizenship to make it possible to move to a bigger league without needing a certain number of national caps.

Laws in the Netherlands require new citizens to renounce their past citizenship‚ resulting in Mokotjo needing to reapply once he received a call-up to the lastest Bafana sqaud.

“It’s a sacrifice I had to make‚ because I have a club career – that’s one [point]‚” the FC Twente midfielder explained.

“I’m 26 and I’m not a youngster anymore – that’s two.

“I have a family to provide for and there comes a time where you have to put yourself first and I did that‚ but at the end of the day I can still play for my country again.” — TMG