Two-time UEFA Champions League winner, Deco has explained what South African football must do to develop more players like Benni McCarthy.
Read: Deco Recalls "Fantastic Experience" Facing Sundowns
The Portuguese played alongside McCarthy at Porto, when both won the Champions League under Jose Mourinho.
He told Soccer Laduma's David Minchella in an exclusive interview that African players are skilful but children need the right foundations to develop into world stars.
"If you have the right foundation and you give the opportunity to your kids to play football with proper coaching at a young age, you will see you'll have a lot of fantastic players, believe me!
"I grew up in Brazil and during that time Brazil was one of the best countries in the world at developing kids.
"If you want to have a good Bafana, take care of your kids. Give all of the opportunities to them! If you do not, it will be difficult.
"African players can play and they are skilful. I have played against many and with some of them as well.
"I can list them... Benni (McCarthy), Samuel Eto'o, Yaya Toure, Didier Drogba, Jay Jay Okocha, George Weah and Michael Essien. I can go on.
"I just think in South Africa that if you can provide a good foundation, players similar to them can thrive."
Read the full exclusive interview with Soccer Laduma's David Minchella where Deco also gives his views on the long-standing Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo debate and recalls facing Mamelodi Sundowns in this week's Soccer Laduma, edition 920.
