Saudi move stepping stone to Europe – Mohau Nkota

Nkota joined the Pro League side from Orlando Pirates a month ago, facing some criticism for heading to a league where many high-profile players wind down their careers.

"For me it's an opportunity and a dream come true at my age to leave Orlando Pirates. I told them that anything that comes, I'm ready to go because I want to expose myself. I want to go play in one of the top leagues and the chairman said it's fine,” Nkota said. 

“I know a lot of people might say that it's where most players retire but for me starting there as I said, is an opportunity. I don't think I'm gonna finish my whole contract there, my three seasons because I'm going there to work. 

“It's not all about the money, the money is good but it's not all about the money. You know soccer guys, we all want the money but it's not all about the money as I said my dream is to play in the top leagues."

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Nkota dismissed the notion that the Saudia Pro League wasn’t strong enough and would hurt his Bafana chances. 

"I mean look at Al Hilal, look at what it did to Man City and then people might think that league is for players to retire, it's not all about that and it's not all about the money. We got there, we go work, we do what we always do. The intensity, how fast the ball moves, I think it's more different than South Africa,” he added. 

“I might say it's up to him, not to me and the coach, it's either he brings me to the national team or not but I'm still young, I'm still gonna make it to the national team, there's still more time. I'm only 20 years [old], turning 21. I think it's a good opportunity for most South Africans to go to Saudi, it's a good league and it's competitive."