Mbatha, who was one of the stand-out players for Pirates during the pre-season camp in Spain, is said to have impressed Cardiff scouts present at the matches.

The former SuperSport United anchorman spent last season on loan at The Buccaneers before making his move permanent this season, and he maintains he is fully concentrating on his current club.

"No, I didn't know [about Cardiff's interest], but I can say focus is at Pirates – I just got a contract at Pirates, so I think everything I'm doing, I'm doing it for Pirates and they are the ones that will decide what will happen in the near future," said Mbatha.

Mbatha, who hails from KwaMashu in Durban, reflected on his maiden Bafana Bafana call-up and said it is a dream come true, which is sure to inspire young boys and girls from the townships and rural areas.

"I'm fortunate enough to be here, it's a dream come true and I'd like to thank the God Almighty. One thing I can say is that hard work beats talent, so, if you work hard, it's definitely going to pay off," he added.

"As much as you have the talent, if you're not working hard, I think some things will lack here and there, but if you mix talent with hard work, I believe you're going to get somewhere."

The 24-year-old, who recently made his CAF Champions League debut with Pirates, and previously turned out for SuperSport in the CAF Confederation Cup, believes his experience in the continental competitions will come in handy in the national team.

"It helped me a lot because I got to experience another level of football – the Champions League is not an easy stage or level to play on, so I think it's something that's going to help me going forward.

"It's where I get the experience and learn more about the football industry, and I think it's also where I have to push and tell myself it's only the beginning," he concluded.

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