A former Orlando Pirates winger whose son is developing into a footballer of note in Germany has commented on his likelihood of representing South Africa in the future.
As revealed in the July edition of KICK OFF Magazine, Jaylen Potgieter is on the books of Bundesliga returnees FC Koln, where he turns out for their U15 side. Playing in numerous positions, he is touted for a bright future.
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His father Shaun Potgieter cut his teeth at the famed School of Excellence, before moving to Ajax Cape Town, from where he attracted the attention of the Buccaneers.
Sadly, his career was curtailed by injury.
So, now that Jaylen is firmly in the grip of the Germans from since the family made the move from South Africa in 2020, has the door been entirely closed on his country of birth?
“For me, it doesn’t make sense that I say to him that you play for Bafana or you play for Germany. Can you imagine, he goes into the German change room and everyone has their headphones on, they’re focused and whatever, and he doesn’t like that. Then he goes to Bafana, and everyone’s singing, motivating each other, and he’s like, ‘Wow, this is what I like’. I can’t make the decision,” says Potgieter Snr.
“Do you understand what I’m saying? It’s totally up to him. I can guide him, give him scenarios, I can tell him, ‘If you play for Germany, maybe you’re playing against Netherlands, England, France and if you make the other option, you’ll play maybe against Lesotho’. This is with all due respect, I’m not saying that there with disrespect.
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“But I can give him scenarios and that’s it. I can also say to him, ‘You can choose what you wanna do, it’s a nice problem. But also, you have to realise that YOU need to make the decision, YOU need to live with it, not me. I have done everything I would have loved to and I wouldn’t change it, and it’s done’.
“I wouldn’t make him do something he doesn’t wanna do,” added the man born in Durban.
Photo: Supplied
For the interview with Shaun Potgieter on his son, grab a copy of KICK OFF, available at your nearest major retail store. If you are struggling to get a copy, send the name and address of the store via email to: Nozuko.Mkonwana@novusmedia.co.za or call Nozuko on 021 910 6681.
