Defender Ramahlwe Mphahlele believes Kaizer Chiefs making the final of the CAF Champions League has vindicated his decision to leave Mamelodi Sundowns for the Soweto giants.
Chiefs face Al Ahly this Saturday in the continental showpiece showdown and Mphahlele, who left Sundowns five years ago for Amakhosi, believes their continental success proves he made the right choice.
"We as players feel very proud to go to the champions league final, very proud of what we've achieved to reach this stage," he said of a feat a lot of players can only dream about.
"Not many players get to play in the CAF Champions League final. Many players go through their careers without reaching this final. So, I am very happy, and I am looking at this saying it is possible for South African clubs to do this year-in and year-out.
"This also improves our CVs, and when we retire, we would be able to look back at this and say I was part of the Chiefs team that played Al Ahly in the CAF Champions League final.
"After all, this is the only title that is missing in the Chiefs collection of trophies, and as players, we know just how important it is for us to try by all means to win this so that Chiefs' name can be on the list of those clubs that have been champions of Africa.
"We are going to play Al Ahly, a big team in all of Africa, a team that has won this trophy more than any other team.
"But football is not about the before or what you've done in the past. It is about the 90 minutes that we are going to play on the 17th (Saturday), about how prepared you are for the 90 minutes.
"You have to give your all, and we are ready for Al Ahly. We've prepared well.
"And if Chiefs win this, then all of South Africa will benefit because the teams from North Africa - Morocco, Egypt and Algeria - will begin to know that South African teams can play good football.
"A few years ago, Sundowns won it. So, it is very important that all South African teams must play in this competition annually."
Kick-off is at 21:00 on Saturday.