Johannesburg - Mamelodi Sundowns left-back Lyle Lakay is delighted to be back in the Bafana Bafana squad ahead of the national team’s upcoming friendly internationals against Guinea and 2018 World Cup winners France.
Lakay’s call-up to the Bafana squad comes as a reward following some good performances for Sundowns since the turn of the year.
With national team coach Hugo Broos turning to mostly younger players as he looks to build a squad capable of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, the experience of the 30-year-old Lakay will be very important.
“It’s a great feeling to represent your country. To be back in the national team is good. Every football player dreams of representing their country. I always told myself that I’ll be happy if I’m in. If I’m not, it’s not the end of the world and I’d have to continue working hard,” said Lakay.
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There is no doubt that France will be the favourites to beat Bafana, but Lakay believes that it will be a good opportunity for the South Africans to test themselves against arguably the best national team in the world, who will also be one of the frontrunners to win the 2022 World Cup later this year.
“Kylian Mbappe is one of the best in the world right now. We can test ourselves against the best in the world and their level. It is obviously higher than our level but we will get to test ourselves against the best and see how far we can go,” said Lakay.
Meanwhile, Lakay’s club Sundowns will be one of the favourites to win the Caf Champions League this season. Masandawana have not won Africa’s premier club competition since 2016, but recently inflicted home and away defeats upon reigning champions Al Ahly in the group stage.
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Lyle Lakay bends one into the back of the net, and Sundowns have three at the Orlando Stadium 🔥
Is Lakay the best free-kick taker in the #DStvPrem? pic.twitter.com/jQYORyBXtw
“I don’t know when last a team beat Al Ahly home and away. Al Ahly have about seven or eight Egypt national team players that played in the Afcon final against Senegal.
“We have the experience of playing on the continent which can be taken to the national team. We are playing against the World Champions in France. The experience will help us. The camp will be a good experience because the team that we are playing against plays at the highest level,” said Lakay.