It has been three years since Thulani Hlatshwayo last featured for Bafana Bafana but 'Tyson' continues to do his bit for the nation with regards to defensive sensation Ime Okon.
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He might not be on the field for the national team, but Tyson is helping coach Hugo Broos' side, although in a very different capacity.
There has been uncertainty over SuperSport United's Ime Okon over whether he would represent South Africa or Nigeria's national teams. The lanky defender, who qualifies for both Nigeria and South Africa, has been touted by his club assistant coach Andre Arendse to surpass the likes of Lucas Radebe if he continues to perform at his current rate.
In a bid for his country, Hlatshwayo has been convincing the former Randburg AFC player to choose Bafana Bafana over the Super Eagles and the reason for that has been revealed.
"I've already told him he needs to stay in South Africa. It's difficult for him to crack into the Nigerian national team, he needs to play in Europe to get in there. And we need him in team, when you look at our centre backs, [Mothobi] Mvala with the injuries, Grant [Kekana], Siyanda [Xulu]," he told journalists at the PSL's Player Transition Programme Graduation.
"I read a little bit about [Siyabonga] Ngezana with the documents. His father is from Nigeria and his mother is from South Africa. Ime grew up here, studied here because Gavin [Hunt] took him from Randburg.
"So Ime has been South African, he also speaks Afrikaans and I told him that Ime you are a South African. In the AFCON I told him that he is a rebel because he supported both Nigeria and South Africa. I told him that he is South African and that the team needs him, otherwise I will not help him because there's a few things that needs to be polished – but the more he plays, the more experience he will get.
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