Share

Dolly now ready for Bafana jump

Cape Town - Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Keagan Dolly feels that he is now ready to represent his country at the senior national team level with Bafana Bafana who will play Gambia on Saturday in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations.

This is the second time the midfielder has been roped into Bafana Bafana, with his first call up and debut coming up against Sudan in Khartoum two years ago in the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers where he admitted that the jump was a bit quick for him.

"Back then I didn't have much experience of playing in the continent," Dolly told Vodacom Soccer. "Going to Sudan was new to me. But now that I have been playing in the continent with Sundowns. I am ready.

"I have been to Zimbabwe, Ghana, Senegal, Tunisia and Congo twice. I have played against some great teams, so I am ready now because playing in the Champions League, the Confederation Cup and the Under-23 qualifiers in Senegal have prepared me well."

This year Dolly has already competed in the two inter-club competitions, the CAF Champions League and the CAF Confederation Cup. He will continue to play in the Champions League where he will travel to Algeria, Egypt and Nigeria and then go to Brazil after that to captain the national Under-23 in the Olympics.

"When I started I really didn't think that I would be where I am at this age," Dolly added. "I always dreamt of being here and I worked hard to achieve that.

"For me, I am quite happy with what I have achieved. It hasn't sunk in, that this is me playing at this level. I haven't had a chance to think about things that I have achieved this year only.

"It's satisfying seeing your hard work pay off. People always say that it's not just about the talent but also about the work you put in.

"As a team, Sundowns, we put in a lot of hard work which is why we are champions. With the Under-23s, we have also been working hard since our first camp when we played against Egypt in Durban. We want to showcase our talent at the Olympics."

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Should Siya Kolisi keep the captaincy as the Springboks build towards their World Cup title defence in 2027?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
Yes! Siya will only be 36 at the next World Cup. He can make it!
26% - 1273 votes
No! I think the smart thing to do is start again with a younger skipper ...
29% - 1470 votes
I'd keep Siya captain for now, but look to have someone else for 2027.
45% - 2249 votes
Vote
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE