A host of Mamelodi Sundowns players have departed for the third international break of the season, ahead of the busy domestic fixture that awaits. The Brazilians’ have been at the center of attention in their domestic league campaign, they head into the break in the Premier Soccer League with 51 points at the top of the log standings. Left footer, Lyle Lakay is amongst Masandawana’s excellent performers which have made their way to the South African National team in preparations for two international friendlies.
“It’s always a great feeling to represent your country, it’s every footballer’s dream to represent their country and also it’s been a while since I’ve been in the National team, it’s good to be back. I always told myself that if I am [selected] I’ll be happy and even if I wasn’t selected it’s also not the end of the world. I just have to continue working hard and keep on trying to make the next squad whenever there’s qualifiers or friendly games.” Said Lakay about his national call up.
“It’s a different squad compared to when I was last there, it’s Ronwen [Williams], Keagan [Dolly], I think it’s the two of them that were there in the previous camp when I was there. I’ve been with Ronwen at the SuperSport United Academy, we’ve played together before and obviously my teammates that will also be there – Rushine [De Reuck], [Khuliso] Mudau, Mothobi [Mvala], [Teboho Mokoena] Tebza and Thapelo [Morena] that are all there.”
Mokoena added to the excitement of his teammate and said, “It’s always an honor and a privilege to get a national call up to represent the country. I am honored to be there and I am looking forward to the two big games that are coming up against Guinea and France. The excitement of playing against the number ones in the world, the last time we played against France was in 2010 and we beat them, and hopefully we will beat them again.”
“Lylo”, who will meet up with the Bafana Bafana squad once again, as they begin the countdown to their first international friendly on Friday, 25 March against Guinea followed by the French national tea on Tuesday, 29 March has expressed the desire to withstand the test of time against some of the big names in the football world.
“For me personally it’s people that we get to watch in the European league and in the Champions league. [Kylian] Mbappe is one of the top players in the world right now, you’ve also got your [Karim] Benzema and [Antoine] Griezmann and the other guys as well, but for me I take it as telling yourself that you get to test yourself against the best in the world. Obviously their level is higher than ours but at the end of the day you get to test yourself against the best in the world which is something that everybody wants to do, to see where you stand and to see how far you can go.”
The Cape Town born star who has played 20 matches for Bafana Ba Style in the new season also reflected on his objectives for the new season, he said, “I set a target for myself at the beginning of the season, right now I think I am on course to achieve that. I think the goals that I have set for myself and also as a team always motivates you and it also keeps you going. Last season I set myself a target of 15 goal contributions, and I ended up at 13. This year I am at 10, and we’ve just passed the halfway mark of the season, I’m almost on the target that I reached last year. All those things play a big factor and also motivates you to do even more.”
“I think and I believe that if I continue to work the way that I am right now I can achieve the goal that I have set out for myself this season personally and obviously if I do that it will help the team to reach the goals that we’ve set as a team.”
