Lyle Foster and Burnley's promotion will inspire SA players - Lucas Radebe

The Clarets sealed their automatic return to the lucrative and arguably the leading elite national league championship in the world, with seven games to spare after beating Middlesbrough 2-1 last week. 

Radebe, a former Leeds United defender says Foster’s promotion with Burnley will push more SA players to develop hunger to play in the EPL.

"For our players, this will be an inspiration that Foster and Burnley are back at the helm. Surely, this will filter down to our players to say we want to follow suit. The spotlight will be on him (Foster), so he has to make sure that he delivers. But we trust him. Having him in the club shows that he will play an integral part at the club and surely with the South Africa flag flying high," he said.

The top two teams earned automatic promotion from the Championship to the EPL, with less than seven games to go, Burnley is 19 points clear of third-placed Luton FC with a game in hand.

Radebe, who spent 11 years in the EPL with Leeds, playing over 200 matches says Foster will have to stay consistent to keep himself in the first team.

"I know it takes a lot, it's hard work and he's done the hard work. It's challenging because he's got to have consistency now, he's got to perform every weekend and make sure that he keeps himself fit. Also, make sure that he keeps himself in the first team, which is very crucial for him," he explained..

Foster becomes the 15th South African professional footballer post-Apartheid to play in the EPL next season, with Radebe and the late Bafana striker Philemon Masinga having opened doors in 1994 when they joined Leeds. 

Percy Tau was the last SA player to play in the EPL at Brighton and Hove Albion in 2021. 

Compared to other leading African footballing nations, SA falls far behind but Radebe still says this needs to be celebrated.

"He is representing and this will surely play a big part in South African football. It's up to us to uplift, elevate and support him because that is missing. We don't celebrate our own when they are at the top. Let's do that with Lyle so that when the youngsters are inspired to play at the top level, they know that we will support them," he added.