Dolly hoping for a finger-lickin’ trip

IF it wasn’t for the trip that Keagan Dolly took to Zimbabwe with the national Under23 team in July last year, perhaps he wouldn’t have returned there seven months later with Mamelodi Sundowns to take part in the CAF Champions League.

Dolly, travelled to South Africa’s neighbours low on confidence after leaving Ajax Cape Town, where he didn’t play much towards the end of his stay; he even missed the Nedbank Cup final against Sundowns. But he didn’t let his frustrations show.

He instead inspired the SA U23s to a 1-1 draw at Rufaro Stadium against their Zimbabwean counterparts before scoring a brace in the 3-0 victory at Harry Gwala Stadium in the return leg, making it three goals in two games.

Those two matches helped the U23s qualify for the Eight Nations tournament which served as qualifiers for the 2016 Rio Olympics. They also helped Dolly find his mojo.

He joined Sundowns a confident player and became an integral part of the Brazilians’ attack, before going to lead the SA U23s in qualifying for the Olympics.

Sundowns even flew him back earlier from Senegal after the Eight Nations to rejoin the team before they defeated Kaizer Chiefs in the Telkom Knockout final.

“I wouldn’t say that returning there ( Zimbabwe) is something sentimental, but there is a realisation that this is where I laid the foundation for my time at Sundowns,” Dolly said.

“Those matches helped me regain my confidence and it was great to help the nat i o nal team because th e game time they gave me helped me a lot.”

It’s because

of that game time that coach Pitso Mosimane threw him into his star-studded Sundowns lineup. Dolly was expected to spend more time on the bench when he arrived.

But he went straight into the starting XI to form part of the most potent attacking trio in the country, “CBD”.

Dolly brings dynamic speed to the trio comprising him, Leonardo Castro and Khama Billiat. The latter is at home with the away team today as Mosimane’s men take on Chicken Inn in the first leg of their preliminary round tie of the Champions League today at Luveve Stadium in Bulawayo.

“I always told myself that if I work hard enough, I will get whatever I want in life,” Dolly said. “That is paying off.

“But the most important thing is enjoying football. I am enjoying it – so is the team – which is why the results are coming. You can see on the field the great chemistry and understanding we have which translates to positive results.”

CBD has scored 21 goals in the PSL, while the club is unbeaten in 19 matches in all competitions.

Mosimane will hope that his prolific trio translate their form to the continent, where he has been frank about his intentions to win the competition. Dolly shares that desire.

“Travelling the continent with the U23s, whether it’s to Zimbabwe, Senegal or Tunisia has opened my eyes and made me grow as a footballer,” he said. “We faced different challenges, different weather conditions and different opponents in those trips which tested diff erent things from us. We passed all of those tests which is why we are going to the Olympics. I would like to take that form in the continent to Sundowns when we play in the Champions League because this is a different level. It is also an opportunity to grow so that by the time I get my chance at Bafana Bafana, I am ready and I represent my country with distinction. That’s all I want.”