Lyle Foster dreaming of Burnley legacy after R131-million move

The striker was speaking to SA media for the first time since becoming the country’s most expensive player, eclipsing Benni McCarthy who joined Celta Vigo from Ajax Amsterdam in 1999, as Bafana prepare to take on Liberia in back-to-back Afcon qualifiers.

Foster wants to emulate the likes of Lucas Radebe, who received a warm welcome during his recent visit to Elland Road having captained and made over 200 appearances for Leeds. 

"Yes, definitely I want to create some sort of legacy. I want to leave something behind and I think that only works if you work hard and if you are committed. I think that's what Lucas was over the years and even Benni is spoken very highly about in the UK. Steven Pienaar, Quinton Fortune, Aaron Mokoena, these guys have set the bar for players like us who followed them," he said.

Burnley are favourites to gain promotion from the Championship to the Premier League in May, and Foster says his transfer is still surreal.

"I'm still pitching myself. I'm just very happy at the moment, very grateful for everything that's happening in my life. I can speak for hours about how grateful I am but I have to shift my focus now to the game on Friday and Tuesday. I'm very excited to be back home and very happy to be back with the national team as well," he added.

Like McCarthy, the former Orlando Pirates forward wants to cement his place as Bafana’s leading man for goals.

That would have to start with Friday’s game against Liberia at Orlando Stadium. 

"I'm grateful for everything that's happening. Being South Africa's most expensive player, I try not to think about it too much to be honest. I just want to play football and enjoy it. Happy to be in the UK, hopefully, I can have a long and fruitful career there just continue working hard and try my best. I want to cement myself as a leading striker in South Africa," he concluded.