Lucas Ribeiro has been a revelation since moving to Mamelodi Sundowns Former Mamelodi Sundowns defender Ricardo Nascimento has urged countryman Lucas Ribeiro to consider switching international allegiance to South Africa. Photo: Ayanda Ndamane/Independent Newspapers
Image: Ayanda Ndamane/Independent Newspapers
Former Mamelodi Sundowns defender Ricardo Nascimento has urged compatriot Lucas Ribeiro to switch international allegiance so he can turn out for Bafana Bafana.
The 26-year-old has made a massive splash since arriving in South Africa from Belgium, and has been a key cog in Sundowns' continued dominance of local football.
After an impressive start to the season, Ribeiro leads the goalscoring charts in the Betway Premiership with nine goals, and has notched up 12 in all competitions, with a further 10 assists to his name.
However, while his stock continues to rise by the week in the Betway Premiership, he is completely unknown in his native Brazil, and his chances of ever getting a call-up by the five-time World Cup winners are non-existent.
According to Nascimento, that's why Ribeiro should consider switching to South Africa when he becomes eligible.
"This is a top player," Nascimento was quoted by KickOff. "It would also be a great reinforcement for Bafana Bafana.
"Unfortunately, I don't think they even know about him here in Brazil. That's why I think it will be interesting that he plays for Bafana Bafana.
Ribeiro is not the first South American who has been linked with Bafana Bafana call-up this season. Erlier in the campaign, Gaston Sirino's impressive form in the black and gold of Kaizer Chiefs had fans calling for him to be included in the national team, especially after Themba Zwane's injury.
However, Hugo Broos has resisted those calls, insisting it wouldn't be for the good of the team to replace at 35-year-old Zwane with a 33-year-old Sirino. The Belgian has insisted that a much younger player was needed to fill Mshishi's boots should he decide to hang them up.
At 26 years old, Ribeiro is considerably younger than the two of them, and would allow the national team to play for a long-term future with him.
IOL Sport