After sacrificing an opportunity to join Soweto giants Orlando Pirates, a Bafana Bafana prospect is making waves in the United States.
Footage of the 21-year-old dribbling starlet, who plays for Hesston College is sure to set tongues wagging among football faithfuls.
And as he looks upto the likes of Teko Modise and Thabo Cele, the Bafana prospect has undoubted potential to be a national team player
The Bafana prospect, Lusanda Nyathi sees brighter days as he enjoys his time as captain of the Hesston College football team.
“Hesston is really good, the coaches really care about the players and they have helped me develop a lot.
“My first season was tough but I feel I’ve grown into a crucial player. I’ve been the captain for the last two seasons and a regular starter.
“Right now, I’ve made all conference twice which is the equivalent of team of the season for the league we play.
“So it’s been a hard journey but a lot of positives have come out of it. I went to small high school in Midrand but I was always playing a lot of club football,” Nyathi told FARPost.
HOW LUSANDA NYATHI MISSED AN PIRATES OPPURTUNITY
Nyathi got his first real challenge at Augusto Palacios’ academy. While at Augusto Palacios academy, the dribbling wizard attracted interest from the Bucaneers.
However when an oppurtunity to go the United States of America presented itself, he pounced on it.
“In 2018 I went on trial with Augusto Palacios academy team and immediately, gained interest from Orlando Pirates.
“But my school coach told me to play for his club team and he had connection in the US so we went on trip to Dallas Texas
“And I received 8 or so offers and decided to go with Hesston as the coach was keen on developing me as a player and person outside of football as well.
“I had one of my old coaches facilitate it, basically I was asked to come trial. We played a team from Limpopo with all the trialists.
“That time, I played well that day and scored the winner. We won 2-1. They asked me to join. I think I played 2 or 3 games for them.
“But at the time getting to practice in Mayfair was a challenge cause I lived in Midrand at the time.
“The Orlando Pirates deal fell through when I left Augusto Palacios. They were keeping tabs on me while I was at Augusto Palacios,” he said.
HOW LUSANDA NYATHI’S PARENTS INFLUENCED HIS DECISIONS
Nyathi reveals what influenced his decision move to the United States of America although he had a chance to entice Pirates.
“So my parents decided I should find a team closer to home. And that’s where my school coach asked me to join the team he coached at in centurion.
“At the time when I got these offers, I was 17or 18 years old. I wasn’t too familiar with the American system.
“The Hesston coach at the time was really genuine with me. I was just another player coming to his team he wanted to develop me and build a solid team.
“He offered me good scholarship. My parents trusted him too look after me both on and off the field,”he said.
In the most recent season, Nyathi scored four goals while providing four assists in 13 games for Hesston College.
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