For players who make a return to the PSL after years of playing abroad, life is certainly no walk in the park, and someone who knows this well is former Bafana Bafana captain Aaron Mokoena.
With Thulani Serero back in the country after spending over 10 years playing his football abroad – first in Europe and then the Middle East – he could get a chance to end his career in the Mother City, where it started for him years ago at Ajax Cape Town (now Cape Town Spurs). This time he has been linked with a move to local rivals, Cape Town City.
There are, however, challenges that players who decide to finish their careers back home face and one of them is the pressure of delivering at a higher level than the rest because of the status they carry.
The mistake some might make, though, is coming back home and thinking they are cashing in on their last paycheck before retirement.
There's a long list of players who have returned from Europe in the last 10 years or so, including the likes of Bongani Khumalo, Steven Pienaar, Andile Jali, Bongani Zungu, Keagan Dolly, Kermit Erasmus, Lebogang Manyama and more recently Kobamelo Kodisang, though he still has a chance to go back. Some of them were unable to make as much of an impact as was expected.
Speaking to the Siya crew, Mokoena said it's important for players who return to the PSL to have a proper plan of what they want.
"For me, it's about being ready to come back and to have a plan when you come back. That's the most important thing. Do you want to come back to play and where do you want to play? Do you think you'd fit into the philosophy of the club that you want to join? All these things are important. Remember the environment abroad and here at home are different and the football is different as well. So, having a plan is important," Mokoena said to the Siya crew.
"Players are different. Some take time to adjust while others can get going immediately. Some come back home with desperation and some come back home to retire. But it also depends on the individual. Some would want to finish on a high and be remembered. I can make an example with Benni (McCarthy). When he came back, people were criticising him, saying he is fat and all of that. But he managed to finish on a high at Pirates, so it depends on the individual. Do you want to come back for a pension fund and relax or you want to play to be remembered? That's why it's important to come back with a proper plan."
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As players who come back home from abroad, Mokoena does admit that the level of respect is higher. The key thing is about how a player handles it, to make sure it does not get to their heads.
"Coming back, you do get that respect that you played alongside some of the best players out there. When you come back, most people expect you to come back with better experience and better delivery, so people are looking up to you. You are respected, if I can put it that way. It's not easy.
"When you come back from abroad, you need to be a leader and you have to bring something different. I played for Bidvest Wits when I came back and I immediately became the captain and the respect I got was highly appreciated. I had to make sure that I led by example and left something there. When I was there, we had a fantastic team and we did well."
It will be interesting to see how Serero fares, if he signs for the Citizens as expected, or any other club in the PSL.
