‘Disrespect to our players! Ribeiro can't win a match against Orlando Pirates’ Mbekezeli Mbokazi, if he is good he must play for Brazil - Maybe our sissy boys will pull up their socks, Lucas can play like prime Ronaldinho combined with prime CR7 & Messi’ - Fans

The debate about the Masandawana forward representing South Africa has divided opinion and GOAL takes a look at what fans have been saying.

Talk about Mamelodi Sundowns attacker Lucas Ribeiro Costa playing international football with Bafana Bafana has been gaining momentum.

However, the player is in his second year playing in South Africa, making his naturalisation into a South African citizen almost impossible unless he showcases exceptional ability.

But that has not stopped the debate about the Masandawana player being included in the Bafana setup and GOAL goes through what fans have been talking about.

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GOAL
Why not? It's there in rugby
If he's willing to represent South Africa why not our rugby national team won two or more World Cups with players born outside SA [Mtawarira and Montgomery] why not as we do have South African players who represent other countries 🤔 - Thabiso H Siyenga

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Ribeiro must go and compete with Vini & co
He's not a South African and can not represent us, he must go and compete with Vini & Co. The same streets complain when a local is overlooked in favour of a foreigner. Why should that change now? The spot he's gonna occupy is most definitely needed by a local who will utilise it to showcase his talent to the world who in turn might emulate the likes of Benni and go play abroad - Newton Franco Ubisi
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If he was playing for one of the useless Soweto teams...
If this boy was playing for one of the useless Soweto teams, even the media would be pushing this boy to play for Bafana 😆😂😂😂 - Onismus Mamaila

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AFP
The same reason France won the World Cup
Yes we need him, it's the same reason France won the World Cup, if we want to win the WC we should nationalise him - Lungelo Mlavo King
Backpage
Disrespecting Mzansi players
Disrespect to our players - Andrew Zhuwao
Orlando Pirates
Ribeiro can't win a match against Mbokazi
He can't win a match against Mbokazi what will he do in the World Cup? - Mzi Nxuba
BackPagePix
Don't disrespect PSL Player of the Season
One bad game against a young Mbokazi already you are disrespecting the Player of the Season. You don't know football - Lungelo Mlavo King
Bafana Bafana
Maybe our sissy boys will pull up their socks
Disrespect my foot many countries in Europe do that...our players will maybe pull up their socks...the thing about nursing our players feelings is the one that causes them to be sissy boys of this country… - Rama Ramirez Clinton
BackPagePix
If Ribeiro is good, he must play for Brazil
A big no here. If he is good must play for Brazil we have our own 🌟 he can't even speak one language of SA - Puteni Okuhle
GOAL GFX
No shame or crime in selecting Ribeiro
Hatred aside, South Africa will not be the first country to have foreign players in their national squad. If Ribeiro qualifies to represent the country, there is no shame or crime in selecting him - Saint-Ash Sbu Wamo-Afrika Sethe
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Lucas can play like prime Ronaldinho combined with prime CR7 & Messi
I blame Sundowns fans for suggesting such a thing😩 , Lucas can play like prime Ronaldinho combined with prime CR7, Messi for all I care, fact is he is not a South African and that's that, we mustn't allow the idea to pass. Or we will be a disgrace n mocked for having no talent in football, we do have players, even if we didn't, but Ribeiro is not for our squad - Mådlålå Sphĕsihlê