Foreign focus

In the past, stalwarts such as Benni McCarthy, Quinton Fortune and Lucas Radebe proudly waved the South African flag abroad, their exploits widely praised and recognised as they used their vast experience and knowledge gained from Europe for the bettermen

After three seasons at Ajax Cape Town, where he won the club’s 2013/14 Young Player of the Season award, Dolly then returned to the club which had nurtured him through his development, Mamelodi Sundowns. In his one-and-a-half year stay at Chloorkop, the skilful winger bagged the league, Telkom Knockout and prized CAF Champions League trophy, forming the formidable ‘CBD’ partnership alongside Khama Billiat and Leonardo Castro. Following prolonged negotiations, Dolly’s European dream was finally made official on 27 January 2017, as he was unveiled at current French top-flight club Montpellier. He made a satisfactory 12 league appearances over the second half of the 2016/17 Ligue 1 season, but following a change in coach, the former Sundowns star had to bide his time with the reserves as he failed to make a first team appearance in over three months at the tail end of 2017. A number of impressive cup performances helped regain his spot in the side, as the 25-year-old ended last season with nine starts and eight substitute appearances to his name, capping off the season with a debut goal in May as he helped his club to a tenth-place finish in the league. A regular call-up to the Bafana Bafana squad over the past two years despite his topsy-turvy time so far in France, Dolly is well-placed in his career trajectory, according to former South African national team winger Delron Buckley. “He excelled in South Africa and is now into his second year in France, in a difficult and very competitive league,” Buckley, who enjoyed stints in Germany, Switzerland and Cyprus, said. “It’s a big plus for any South African to play in that league, and with all the experience he is gaining and