Johannesburg - Aaron Mokoena has won many admirers during his career and Pitso Mosimane is definitely one of them.

The Bafana Bafana boss believes Mokoena sets a fine example for up-and-coming footballers and says the defender, who captained South Africa at the 2010 World Cup, is a worthy recipient of the Freedom of the City of London.

The award is a major honour that is handed out by municipalities in former Commonwealth countries to esteemed members of its community or to organisations that have given the community heroic service.

And the Bafana boss feels Mbazo richly deserves the accolade.

"I am proud of his achievements, he has been a great servant of the national team and a wonderful ambassador for South African football abroad," Mosimane told SAFA's official website.

In addition to the 104 caps he has accumulated for his country, Mokoena, now aged 29, has featured for a number of prominent European clubs, including Ajax Amsterdam, KRC Genk, Blackburn Rovers and his current employers Portsmouth.

"In my view no one is more deserving of the honour," Mosimane added.

"Mokoena has played more than one-hundred times for Bafana Bafana which shows the man's qualities - on and off the field.

"This honour does not come as a surprise to me, he is a special player and a special person. We just hope this will serve as an inspiration to many players out there that whatever you set your mind to, you can make it," concluded the coach