Twenty-eight years into his stay in South Africa, Liswa Nduti has revealed how he has come to embrace the country where he has lived for just about all his adult life.
Nduti spoke to KickOff.com in the aftermath of Chippa United chairman Siviwe Mpengesi declaring that his club is standing behind Nigeria instead of Bafana Bafana.
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The two rivals face off in the semi-finals of the AFCON on Wednesday evening.
"I have lived in South Africa for 28 years and all my kids were born here so I have a soft spot for thus country that I call home," says Nduti.
Nduti made a name for himself at Manning Rangers where he won the inaugural PSL title after arriving in 1996.
"Why can I not call South Africa my home when I have lived all my adult life here and more than half my life as well?
"Yes, I'm Congolese by birth but I embrace South Africa because this is now my home since after playing for more than five years, I was given an identity document so I'm not lesser of a citizen.
"I'm Congolese by birth but have a South African heart and have become accustomed to what is even eaten daily.
"The three kids that I have were born in South Africa even though two of them now live in France," he says while adding his voice about the AFCON.
"If Bafana goes on to win the AFCON, I will be okay with it because I love this country for providing a home for me.
"This has been the best tournament ever because the football has been good with plenty goals on smooth pitches.
"We have had upsets with all the top teams like Senegal, Morocco, Mali, Tunisia, and Egypt long gone.
"We are watching players who are mostly based outside the continent especially in Europe where the money remains good.
"Bafana playing Congo in the final will be last part of the puzzle of this AFCON and a beauty that I'm looking forward to.
"I have a feeling that Bafana will get the better of Nigeria because the Super Eagles have the players but don't have a team.
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"Bafana is a solid unit and that is obviously helped by that most of the players are coming from one successful team, Mamelodi Sundowns.
"Against Cote d'Ivoire, we stand a good chance, so I consider us being in the final already and we want my adopted home South Africa in the final," says Nduti, who now lives in Johannesburg.