South Africa U-23 wing-back Kabelo Seriba has explained why he left SuperSport United and sought to dispel the myths over the standard of football in the Virsliga.
Seriba, 21, left SuperSport United in 2016, despite being touted as a major prospect for the future after impressing within the development ranks and in the MultiChoice Diski Challenge (reserve league).
READ: I feel sorry for coach Notoane - Seriba
His move to Latvian outfit FS Metta largely went under the microscope within local media but he remained a key figure within the Amajita set-up and now in the U-23 squad with head coach David Notoane.
Currently in his third season, with 56 games, one goal and five assists to his name, Seriba explains to KickOff how he's benefited from the journey to Northern Europe.
"After winning the Bayhill (Metropolitan Premier Cup), I had a bit of a disagreement with SuperSport as I wanted first-team football, Seriba said. "I asked them to let me go out on loan but the team dragged their feet with that decision.
"Playing regularly in the MDC for three seasons I wanted something new, I wanted new challenges and they released me six months later. I just wanted to move forward with my career, I needed an opportunity to go further with my career and develop."
He added on the surprise switch: "What happened then is, I got a new agent from Italy shortly after the end of my contract with SuperSport, Guilio D'Alessandro, we were in contact for a while.
"I went to Belgium, spent time with the top-flight side Eupen but then I received a contract offer from Latvia and I didn't hesitate to sign it."
After displaying supreme adaptability within his new surroundings, the attacking full-back has shown clear signs of physical and tactical improvement - which he attributes to the ambition of moving abroad.
"The standard is much higher, for me personally, playing against a host of new players I've never heard or seen before in my life was one challenge, the next was different philosophies in how to attack and defend," he explained.
"In South Africa, especially in MDC, players are of a high technical standard but much lower physically and mentally, the concentration levels and awareness of space is lacking.
"These guys here are big, strong and what you need know is, one mistake you are punished."