The 27-year-old feels national team experience will be valuable for his club duties
Kaizer Chiefs defender Given Msimango hopes his experience with Bafana Bafana will help him bring success to his club after earning a maiden call-up to the national team.
Msimango made it to Hugo Broos’ side for the World Cup qualifiers against Nigeria and Zimbabwe following a difficult campaign with the Soweto giants, who finished 10th in the PSL.
While he was not selected among the starting XI in both matches, Msimango feels being with the national team is a great learning curve for him, as the lessons acquired under the tutelage of Broos will be valuable for him at club level.
“For me, it just adds to the experience that I've had this season. The season filled with ups and downs, this national team call-up forms part of the ups,” Msimango said, as per SABC.
Being with Bafana Bafana is a great learning curve
“Having to take this experience with me, having to grow with and try and apply it to my parent club and get the success that it deserves.
“And for me to also improve as an individual, improve on my skills because that's the only way you grow and learn as an individual when you are surrounded by the best players in the country, they show you what it takes to play at such a level. So, for me, it's just to absorb as much as I can and go back and work hard on my game.”
Msimango has been a peripheral figure when it comes to Bafana Bafana, getting call-ups but failing to make it into the final squad, and history looked to be repeating itself for the June qualifiers before he earned a late inclusion following an injury to Mamelodi Sundowns defender Grant Kekana.
‘I'm enjoying what I'm seeing and experiencing from the travelling’
“First time ever, I've made the Bafana team. I felt very happy to honour the call-up irrespective of the circumstances. For me, it was to come and absorb and learn and absorb and learn I did and I still am,” he added.
“So, yeah I'm enjoying the experience, I'm enjoying the training, I'm enjoying what I'm seeing and experiencing from the travelling, to the games and how we approach the games. I'm very happy with that, so, yeah, I'm just looking forward to what the future holds.”
Msimango will hope to have impressed Broos enough to earn more call-ups in future and can strengthen his case further with good displays for Chiefs.
