Kaizer Chiefs legend Itumeleng Khune has expressed his understanding of Lucas Ribeiro Costa’s reported desire to leave Mamelodi Sundowns, drawing parallels to his own career when he was named PSL Footballer of the Season.
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Ribeiro, who arrived from Brazil, has taken South African football by storm, dazzling fans with his creativity, vision, and ability to change games single-handedly. His performances earned him last season’s PSL Footballer of the Season award, but his future at Chloorkop now appears uncertain.
Reports suggest the 26-year-old is eager to test himself in one of Europe’s top leagues to boost his chances of breaking into the Brazilian national team.
Khune says he understands the logic.
“Remember, Ribeiro is a foreigner, first of all. He comes from Brazil, and in Brazil players are very talented, they all want to compete in big leagues because that’s how you get into the national team,” Khune told the Siya crew.
“If you want to be called up, you have to play in the top five leagues. The South African league is in the top 10 or 20, but for a Brazilian, Europe is where you prove yourself.”
The veteran goalkeeper reflected on his own experience after winning Footballer of the Season earlier in his career.
“If I were Ribeiro, I was once in his shoes. Unfortunately, such opportunities never came for me, or maybe we weren’t told at the time. He is in a position now where, if the opportunity comes, he must take it. We all remember last season, there was talk of him taking South African citizenship to play for Bafana, but he probably realises he stands no chance of playing for Brazil if he stays here. So, what’s next? Go to a big league, get noticed, and earn that national team call-up.”
Khune also hailed Ribeiro’s influence at Sundowns, noting the visible dip when he was unavailable.
“You could see the difference when he wasn’t there, Sundowns looked different and lacked creativity upfront without his intelligence. He has proven over and over that he’s a prolific player any team would need. I wouldn’t be surprised if one of the big European clubs comes for his signature. I believe he will make it in the big leagues.”
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