What former French Ligue 1 champion with Paris Saint Germain told Bafana Bafana star Mohau Nkota about Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar

Mohau Nkota joined Saudi Pro League side Al Ettifaq from Orlando Pirates in July.

He went to a club where he teamed up with former Liverpool star Georginio Wijnaldum who previously played with Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar at Paris Saint-Germain.   

“I once asked him – because I saw a picture of him, Messi, Mbappé, Neymar – I asked him: ‘What was it like to play with this guy [Messi]?,'” saidNkota as per ESPN.

“[Wijnaldum] said to me: ‘Bro, I played at Liverpool, PSG. For me, it was just [about] going to play there and the discipline. People might talk, but just do your job and you’ll see [how far you can go].’ He’s a really good guy.” 

Nkota explains how Relebohile Mofokeng helped him adjust at Pirates after he was promoted to the first team from the reserve side.
"He [Mofokeng] was one of those guys - we shared the same room in the camp, so we used to talk," said Nkota.

"He used to tell me: 'Don't be scared. Do anything you want to do. This is the first team... We all play; we all work [together], so if you make a mistake - if you lose the ball - it's fine. We'll get it back. Just do your thing. Don't be scared of these guys and what they say. Just do your thing and close your ears and you will see.'

"He helped me a lot - especially in the first team when I arrived there. When I was promoted, he helped me a lot with everything. He said I just need to talk and I mustn't be scared because we played together.”

Nkota's move to Saudi Arabia came just after one season of playing Premier Soccer League football. 

He is now expected to move to Europe after playing in Saudi Arabia where he is gaining more experience. 

That alaos helps him cement his place in the Bafana Bafana squad ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations tournament.  

Nkota and Wijnaldum started for Al Ettifaq wheh they visited Damac in a Saudi Pro League match on Friday. 

The Bafana star has been named in the preliminary squad for October's 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Zimbabwe and Rwanda.