Mihlali Mayambela living his dream thanks to Hugo Broos

Based in Cyprus where he plays for Aris Limassol, the 27-year-old has made five appearances for the national team and is one of the players expected to make the final Africa Cup of Nations squad in January. 

Mayambela spoke to journalists about his Bafana debut in the 4-0 win over Sierra Leone just over a year ago. 

"I think it was the only time I was nervous to play football. When you are dreaming about something and you know that there's a possibility of you going out there and losing the opportunity forever, but I also knew that if I was doing what I was doing before I came here, then there's a chance that I will have another chance and I will do well.

"Things went well, we won, most importantly and I think we performed well," he said.  

The younger brother to former Orlando Pirates midfielder Mark Mayambela has also been impressed by the camaraderie within the Bafana camp.

"Also you can tell with the performances, and maybe also when you come to see the training sessions, the environment is amazing. Also, it's difficult to find these types of environments in football, even at the club level, to feel at home, to be happy to see good performances and to play with good players, and this is what we have here. I'm quite sure that it will not end here it'll continue." 

Mayambela admits following his path was difficult given who his brother is, but is certain he is achieving that now. Mark was unable to make the national team. 

"At the early stage, it was really a problem because I was in the shadow of someone. And being compared with someone it's not nice. At some point, I lost the hunger to play the game because I was being compared, but also, I was a little bit young. 

"When I realised that I had the ability to do something for myself, I was looking to move into this space, into another space where nobody knows about me and my family. So, I can also make something for myself. I think so far I've been trying my best also to live my own journey and to do my own stuff and to play my own way."