Not even playing in the top European leagues can beat the feeling of taking part in a FIFA World Cup, according to former Bafana Bafana midfielder Reneilwe Letsholonyane.
Thursday, 11 June marked exactly 10 years since since the dreadlocked midfielder and his Bafana teammates represented South Africa at the 2010 showpiece on home soil.
READ: Shabba re-lives 'perfect' 2010 goal
'Yeye' was involved in the buildup to that special strike scored by Siphiwe Tshabalala that brought a whole continent to its feet.
Watch Shabba's historic strike from 2010 again below!
The Highlands Park star believes playing in a World Cup fills the gap of having never played overseas in his career.
"Ja, definitely, I think the World Cup is the biggest stage of football," Letsholonyane tells snl24.com/kickoff.
"I think it's the biggest stage because there's no other competition after the World Cup where all the nations and all continents are together in that competition.
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"So for me I think... yes, I may not have gotten the opportunity to play in Europe, but I'm not complaining and I feel the fact that I have represented my country during a World Cup, I've achieved what obviously most of us as footballers would want to achieve for as long as we want to play this game.
"It is an experience of the whole competition for me. I think no one will ever know how I felt during that time. No one will ever experience how it happened the way I did. So that will never be taken away from me."
Letsholonyane, who played in the first two matches against Mexico and Uruguay, says he will forever cherish the opportunity.
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"From the morning getting onto the bus preparing to leave for the stadium, seeing people from Sandton to Soweto wearing the national team colours and showing us the messages of support," he recalls fondly.
"Seeing how packed the stadium was, hearing the sound of the vuvuzelas on the day, people singing in one voice... obviously the goal that was scored by Shabba and us as a team going to the corner celebrating.
"So just those moments, I think it's one of those special moments that I will never forget."
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