Ime Okon’s break into the Bafana Bafana squad has come with all sorts of sentiments, yet the 21-year-old has kept his focus on the job with a goal to his name as well.
Okon has featured in all three games for Bafana on their way to the COSAFA Cup semi-finals at the ongoing tournament being played in Bloemfontein.
The mere mention of his name in Bafana-related subjects has ignited divided opinions about the fact that he was born in Johannesburg to a Nigerian father and South African mother.
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"Bafana is ready to win bigger things if they can embrace what the global game has become," argues retired Nigerian footballer Prince Olomu, who remains resident in South Africa.
"Lamine Yamal (Spain), Kylian Mbappe (France), Jama Musiala (Germany), Bukayo Saka (England), Alexander Isak (Sweden), and Jeremy Frimpong (Netherlands) all play for European teams and there are no issues even though they have roots in Africa.
"If it is for the benefit of having a stronger national team, then I see no issues with selecting anyone eligible.
"You play for a national team based on eligibility.
"So, I see no issues and give praise to the boy for focusing on playing football.
"The Springboks rugby team has had players who are not originally from South Africa who have helped them win the World Cup and there has been no noise.
"Even Bafana has had players with roots in England, Portugal, Holland or Greece in the past, but there was no noise.
"Ime Okon was born in South Africa and is eligible to play for Bafana, so that is what matters.
"The boy was born and grew up here, eats the same food, speaks the language, has never been to Nigeria, and takes pride in identifying as being South African and is eligible and that is what matters.
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"Other sentiments on Okon are just feeding on black-on-black hate.
"The boy is not in hiding or denial about who he is and doesn’t put a lesser effort when wearing the Bafana jersey just because he was born to a Nigerian father.
"South Africa needs to open its doors and be accommodative of all those kids eligible like Ime," says Olomu.
Photo: Charle Lombard/Gallo Images
