Approaching his ninth year in the PSL, AmaZulu goalkeeper Richard Ofori has opened up on the ups and downs of nearly a decade in South African football.
The Ghanaian shotstopper joined Maritzburg United from We All Stars ahead of the 2018/19 season.
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That United squad would go on to produce some of South Africa's most established talents, alongside Ofori, and it came as little surprise when Soweto giants Orlando Pirates secured Ofori's signature in 2020.
Speaking exclusively to KICK OFF magazine, the 31-year-old was candid in his assessment of the last nine years.
"I have had a great career, to be honest. Coming to the PSL, I was a young man who wanted to play and prove himself outside of his country, to see what he could do in other leagues," Ofori said.
"So, I got the opportunity to come to South Africa and joined Maritzburg United – it was a dream come true.
"Yes, it was scary to the PSL, because you don’t know what to expect, coming to another country. You don’t know the culture, the style of play, so it was tough. I have had to work hard.
Ofori went on to win three MTN 8 titles with the Sea Robbers during a four-year spell.
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Next up was AmaZulu, where Ofori has become a key figure in the Arthur Zwane-led outfit. He collected 11 clean sheets from his 22 appearances last season, helping Usuthu secure a sixth-place finish.
"The most important thing is the mindset. Having been here for so long, I can confidently say that the league is one of the best in Africa; it is number one.
"And it shows that we have the best league when you see our teams are competing well in the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup."
In the meantime, Ofori has committed his future to Usuthu and is determined to help the Durban-based outfit return to continental football.
Photo: Darren Stewart/Gallo Images
