By his own admission, Mamelodi Sundowns left-back Tebogo Langerman was never interested in African football and was only concerned about domestic competitions.
The 30-year-old has achieved a great deal locally since he made his PSL debut with Bidvest Wits in 2009.
But he thought his achievements at home were the be-all and end-all for a footballer.
"Playing in Africa has helped me a lot even though I was not even interested," said Langerman, a league champion with SuperSport United in 2010.
"When coach Pitso Mosimane introduced this African thing we didn't take it serious," admitted Langerman to the Sowetan yesterday.
Langerman, however, is confident that his change of mentality and the honour of representing his club and country on international stage will stand him in good stead in terms of becoming a Bafana regular. He has six caps.
"It has helped me a lot playing for Sundowns in Africa, because we are playing against the same players when we are with Bafana.
" It becomes easier for me. I have won a lot of cups here at home, but winning the Champions League will elevate me to a different level," he said.
Langerman was part of the Bafana team that played 1-1 against Burkina Faso in the 2018 World Cup qualifier in Burkina Faso at the weekend, but did not play. He missed Bafana's friendly against Ghana last night as, together with clubmates Keagan Dolly and Hlompho Kekana, they were excused to focus on Downs' CAF Champions League final against Zamalek at Lucas Moripe Stadium on Saturday.
l See Page 22
Langerman changes perception about CAF
By his own admission, Mamelodi Sundowns left-back Tebogo Langerman was never interested in African football and was only concerned about domestic competitions.
The 30-year-old has achieved a great deal locally since he made his PSL debut with Bidvest Wits in 2009.
But he thought his achievements at home were the be-all and end-all for a footballer.
"Playing in Africa has helped me a lot even though I was not even interested," said Langerman, a league champion with SuperSport United in 2010.
"When coach Pitso Mosimane introduced this African thing we didn't take it serious," admitted Langerman to the Sowetan yesterday.
Langerman, however, is confident that his change of mentality and the honour of representing his club and country on international stage will stand him in good stead in terms of becoming a Bafana regular. He has six caps.
"It has helped me a lot playing for Sundowns in Africa, because we are playing against the same players when we are with Bafana.
" It becomes easier for me. I have won a lot of cups here at home, but winning the Champions League will elevate me to a different level," he said.
Langerman was part of the Bafana team that played 1-1 against Burkina Faso in the 2018 World Cup qualifier in Burkina Faso at the weekend, but did not play. He missed Bafana's friendly against Ghana last night as, together with clubmates Keagan Dolly and Hlompho Kekana, they were excused to focus on Downs' CAF Champions League final against Zamalek at Lucas Moripe Stadium on Saturday.
l See Page 22
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