Restless Mokotjo wants move to 'big time' European league

Kamohelo Mokotjo says he wants a move at the end of the season to join “the big boys” in a major European league as his time with Dutch club Twente Enschede looks to be drawing to a close.

Mokotjo said after Sunday’s draw with Excelsior that he felt the time to move on was rapidly approaching.

“It is important that I challenge myself. I want to play with the big boys‚ in a top league. It’s time. I’m 25 years old and I feel ready for it‚ especially because of the experience I have picked up in the Dutch league.”

Mokotjo has been the engine of the club for several seasons now but feels he has reached a plateau.

“I want to also be able to play in the Champions League or the Europa League‚” he said.

Mokotjo said there was not any options on the cards and that he had no major preferences.

“The most important is that I feel like I fit in at a club‚ the way they play their football and the ambitions that they have. I feel I’m ready to go to any major league.”

Mokotjo’s contract at Twente is for one more season – until mid-2018 – but if they sell him in June they are likely to make a decent return on the money they spent when they paid PEC Zwolle some R20 million for the player in August 2014.

Mokotjo moved to Feyenoord from the SuperSport United academy in 2009‚ and spent time at Excelsior on loan and played at Feyenoord before moving to PEC Zwolle on a free transfer in July 2013.

Twente Enschede have battled with financial troubles over the last year and the sale of Mokotjo is likely to be a major windfall for their battered books.

Mokotjo‚ originally from Odendaalsrus‚ was last year granted Dutch citizenship and is therefore free to play as a local in any European Union‚ including England‚ even though he has been capped by South Africa.

- TMG Digital/TMG Sport