Mohau Nkota Says African Players Dream of Playing Abroad — “We Want More Than Just Staying Home”
South Africa’s Mohau Nkota reveals why many African footballers prefer playing overseas instead of staying on the continent.
A Bold Statement From a Rising Star
Not every footballer says it out loud.
But
👉 Mohau Nkota
did.
And his words are now sparking conversation across the football world.
👉 African players, he says, don’t always want to stay and play in Africa.
“We Want to Explore” — Nkota Speaks Honestly
Currently playing for
👉 Al-Ettifaq
Nkota opened up about something many players feel—but rarely express publicly.
👉 “As Africans, not all of us want to stay in Africa,” he said.
👉 “Most of us want to play overseas.”
It’s not just about football.
👉 It’s about experience, exposure, and growth.
Leaving Orlando Pirates Wasn’t Easy
Nkota didn’t come from nowhere.
He developed at one of South Africa’s biggest clubs—
👉 Orlando Pirates.
Leaving wasn’t simple.
👉 It was emotional.
👉 It was personal.
He described his final days at the club as difficult, especially saying goodbye to teammates and fans.
A Tough Goodbye
Nkota admitted:
👉 “It wasn’t easy… my last week was emotional.”
That’s something many players go through.
Because for them—
👉 Clubs aren’t just workplaces
👉 They’re home
A New Generation Is Changing the Story
South Africa has historically struggled to export players abroad.
Many big names stayed local throughout their careers.
For example:
- Teko Modise
- Itumeleng Khune
👉 Both were stars—but never moved overseas.
Now Things Are Different
Nkota’s generation is doing things differently.
More young players are moving abroad early.
Some examples:
- Mbekezeli Mbokazi — now playing in the USA
- Lyle Foster — playing in England
👉 That’s a big shift.
Young Talent Leading the Way
In the latest national team setup:
👉 Most overseas-based players are under 27
That tells you everything.
👉 The future is global.
Why Do African Players Want to Leave?
It’s not just about money.
Players want:
✔ Better competition
✔ Bigger exposure
✔ International recognition
✔ Career growth
👉 Simply put—more opportunities.
What About Current Local Stars?
Some top players still stay in South Africa:
- Ronwen Williams
- Themba Zwane
- Teboho Mokoena
👉 But even that trend may change soon.
Eyes on the World Cup
Nkota now has his sights set on something bigger—
👉 The FIFA World Cup.
He believes South Africa has what it takes to go far.
A Challenging Group Ahead
South Africa could face:
- Mexico
- Czech Republic
- South Korea
👉 Not easy.
But not impossible either.
“We Want to Leave a Mark”
Nkota’s ambition is clear.
👉 He doesn’t just want to participate.
👉 He wants to be remembered.
“We want people to remember what we did,” he said.
Football is changing.
And African players are changing with it.
For
👉 Mohau Nkota
and many others—
👉 Staying local is no longer the only dream.
The new goal?
👉 Go global.
👉 Compete internationally.
👉 Leave a legacy.