Cape Town-born youngster Leo Mert is yet another young South African who took a leap of faith to trial in Europe for a team. Leo was successful having recently just signed his first professional contract with Italian side A.S.D Seravezza Pozzi Calcio in the Serie D. Leo is an out and out striker, who is capable of playing anywhere in the attack, as he says “Where there is a chance to score, I’ll be there.” Leo represented the Bidvest Wits Academy as well as SuperSport United in the MDC, before deciding to join International Football scouting agency Socca Dream. From there, he was allowed to be scouted in Europe. On the latest episode of Player Abroad, Cape Town-born youngster Leo Mert shares his experience having recently signed for Italian outfit Seravezza Pozzi Calcio and how the game there differs from the South African football.

After securing a man-of-the-match award on his debut for Portadown FC, Katlego Mashigo is very quickly showing that he has the talent necessary to make a career out of playing in Europe. During part one of this two-part interview, Mashigo opened up about how he most likely wouldn’t have played football if he stayed in South Africa. Mashigo spent the first few years of his career in the youth leagues but very quickly made his way to the Northern Ireland Football League (NIFL) where he signed for Portadown FC, joining fellow South African Jethren Barr. Having represented Ireland at the u15 level, Mashigo, holding a dual-citizenship, explains which national country he would like to represent in the future and why. The 21-year-old explains why he would come back to South Africa and potentially the PSL. In the final part of this 2-part Players Abroad special, South African-born youngster Katlego Mashigo provides a career-first explanation about which national team he would like to play for. Mashigo also speaks about the chances of him ever joining a club in the PSL.

Katlego Mashigo is very quickly becoming a household name in Northern Ireland after the South African-born youngster received the man of the match award after his debut game. Rewind the tape to 2006, Katlego moved to Ireland, after spending the first five years of his life in Shoshanguve. Once in Ireland, Katlego’s mother took him down to the local football club to start playing, but as Katlego says so himself, he was more fascinated with the artificial pitch than the game itself! Speaking on the SL podcast, Katlego confesses that if he was to stay in South Africa, chances are he would never have kicked a ball, or the chances are slim at least. In Part one of this 2-part Players Abroad interview, Katlego begins to talk about how he started playing the beautiful game we all know and love; he takes us on his journey, starting right from the very beginning.

With the second half of the PSL underway, we wanted to take a trip down memory lane to our conversations with a few South Africans who are flying the flag high abroad! This is a very special highlights episode that features snippets from Luke Le Roux, Kgotso Masangane, and Bantu Mzwakal. The three South African stars representing Mzansi in Scandinavia talk about the different playing styles in their respective clubs compared to that of the PSL. On the latest episode of Players Abroad, Luke Le Roux, Kgotso Masangane, and Bantu Mzwakal reveal what it’s like playing abroad compared to what it’s like playing in the DStv Premiership!

During his early years as a footballer in the Premier Soccer League (PSL), Jethren became the youngest goalkeeper in PSL History to make his debut, at the age of 17. Barr started his career in 2012 when he signed for Bidvest Wits. he spent the 2016/2017 PSL season on loan at Stellenbosch FC before signing for Maritzburg United, where he made history (and currently still holds that record.) Barr managed to secure a move to Portadown FC; the team plays in the Northern Ireland Football League (NIFL). Barr has managed to claim a few personal accolades since joining ‘The Ports.’ On the latest episode of the SL Podcast’s ‘Players Abroad’ Barr discusses his early career in the PSL, how it felt to make his professional debut for Maritzburg United and how he managed to secure a move to Northern Ireland after being held back on a few occasions. The 26-year-old goalie speaks candidly about how changing football agents helped him with his move to Europe. In the full show, Barr talks about the difference between playing in NIFL compared to the PSL and how he managed to adjust to the culture and playing styles.

During his early years as a footballer in the Premier Soccer League (PSL), Darren Smith became a journeyman and moved between clubs frequently, playing for the likes of Amazulu, Stellenbosch FC, and SuperSport United. After failing to establish himself in any local side, Smith persevered and earned his opportunity in the Ykkönen (Finland’s second division), where he enjoyed a breakout season, scoring 18 goals in 22 league appearances to win the Golden Boot award, while also being crowned Best Striker of the Season and Player of the Season. In the latest episode of the SL Podcast’s “Player Abroad”, Smith discusses his early career struggles in the PSL and how he managed to earn a move to Finland against all odds. The 24-year-old striker also speaks candidly about how a particular PSL club CEO told him to give up on his football dream and consider a different path, and how his belief in himself and God helped him maintain focus on goal. In the full show, he also discusses his new team FC Honka and the opportunity to play in the Veikkausliiga (Finland’s top division) and the newly-formed UEFA Europa Conference League when he starts his next campaign abroad.

Former Stellenbosch FC & SuperSport United youth Luke Le Roux has been quietly earning his stripes, earning 23 appearances (and 20 starts) during the 2020 season of Sweden’s top tier, the Allsvenskan. The 20-year-old is back in South Africa due to a work permit issue, but with his side having already secured their top flight status for next year’s campaign, he has his sights set on next year. The central midfielder has dreams of making the South Africa u23 side which will travel to Tokyo for the 2021 Olympics. Having been left out of last year’s preliminary squad for the tournament, he’ll have a second chance due to the postponement of the games which was caused by the global COVID-19 pandemic. In the latest episode of the SL Podcast’s “Players Abroad”, Le Roux discusses the 2020 Allsvenskan campaign and the importance of getting game time to earn experience and build his confidence. He also opens up about his ambitions to earn a spot in David Notoane’s South Africa u23 squad when they travel to Tokyo, Japan for this year’s Olympic games. Le Roux also discusses the added benefit of having fellow SA youngsters Tashreeq Matthews and Keanin Ayer with him in the Varberg Bois squad.

Bantu Mzwakali shares his experiences of life as a footballer in Sweden from the physicality of the league, to be unable to see his family due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Promising midfielder Kgotso Masangane has taken a relatively unconventional journey to European leagues, making the leap from ABC Motsepe League outfit FC Zone Mavo, to unfamiliar territory in the Latvian Higher League with FK Metta. In his first season with the club in 2019, his performances were so impressive that he earned Metta’s Player of the Season Award. Speaking on SL Radio’s Players Abroad podcast, the 22-Year-Old midfielder discussed how while misses home, his next goal would be to join a larger club, stating “For me, a move in Europe, for a bigger team, would be a great move.” Discussing the system at his current team, he praised the coach’s faith in younger talent, continuing, “For FK Metta, the coach loves to introduce young players most of the time. [It’s] his philosophy, he believes in young players not experienced players.”

South African players have managed to find success in Scandinavian countries such as Sweden, Finland & Denmark. Examples include Sibusiso Zuma and Josta Dladla. While the football can be quite enjoyable in Northern Europe, the change of scenery, culture & cuisine can be quite jarring for players. This is the case for Ayabulela Konqobe, a former Amazulu star who is having a stellar season for Ekenäs IF in Finland. Speaking on SL Radio’s Players Abroad podcast, the 24-year-old midfielder discussed how he misses South African food; “I can’t eat this man. I think on the third or fourth day of eating Finnish food, I was like ‘Nah, I can’t have this anymore’. I was literally just having buns and cheese and ham the whole time until my friend started cooking because we both couldn’t handle it."