Lebogang Phiri is a pleasantly level-headed lad for a 23-year-old South African footballer with the world at his feet. We've got almost zero stock of his ilk on our shores.
At the level he's at, most of Phiri's teammates at Bafana Bafana may think they've accomplished everything they've dreamt of as youngsters, but not Phiri.
The right-footed attacking midfielder, who was born in Alexandra, Johannesburg, is still meticulously planning his journey in Europe, almost six years since he left SA as a 17-year-old to join Brondby in Denmark.
After being groomed from the age of 14 at the Bidvest Wits Academy, it was during his four-year stint at Brondby that Phiri's mark was noticed. He played close to 150 matches for the Danish club before being snapped up by the French Ligue 1 club Guingamp as a free agent in July last year.
SA CONTINGENT
Phiri's move to Guingamp came as a result of some manoeuvring by his friend and red-hot Bafana striker, Lebo Mothiba (RC Strasbourg) who, alongside Bongani Zungu (Amiens) and Keegan Dolly (Montpellier), make up the four-man SA contingent plying their trade in France's Ligue 1.
"I don't know what happened, but Lebo just felt part of my journey and he trusted me as a player. He made me get into contact with his manager and they gave me a chance to go to France as well," said Phiri.
"So, ever since, me and Lebo, we've had this little-brother big-brother relationship and I'm always behind him. I still think there's more to Lebo than what we've seen so far. He is a very level-headed boy and hard working. He knows his job and he does it well. At this moment Lebo is on fire and we should try and utilise that in the national team as well. The level of performances he's been putting out is incredible for a 22-year-old in a foreign country."
SIX STRAIGHT LOSSES
Unlike Mothiba, who has started the current campaign with aplomb, scoring five league goals for Strasbourg, Phiri's team is at the bottom of the log after six straight losses.
Phiri started only three of the nine league matches they've played because of the injury he suffered early in the season.
"I was out for four weeks, which means four games out. I'm looking to have more game time this season because last season I had 11 starts in 25 games.
"It's a very tough start for us and it's not usual for our club because of the level of football that we play. We're not supposed to be where we are."
Leaving SA early in his career helped in strengthening Phiri's resolve about playing abroad. He's not one of those Bafana players who will get easily frustrated by not getting a starting berth at his club and immediately think about packing his bags and coming back home.
The likes of Lebohang Manyama and Andile Jali are the latest Bafana players who, for different reasons, decided to cut short their sojourns in Europe for the comfort of playing at home.
Ironically, both Manyama and Jali, the players who were recently ranked in much higher stock than Phiri, are not in the current Bafana squad as they are still trying to resuscitate their careers in their new teams in SA.
"To be honest, moving from Denmark to the French league is a big step," says Phiri, whose maturity in terms of calculating his future far exceeds his age.
"For me, being able to play in a foreign country, especially from the age of 18, I think gave me the necessary step that I needed. It's been tough in terms of the culture, the lifestyle and the language, and the football as well because it's at a much higher level. I consider the French league as one of the top five in the world."
Armed with all that knowledge about where he is in his career, you get to appreciate why Phiri is not one of those players who can't see the bigger picture in having contracts in Europe.
"For me, playing in that league is the biggest achievement and I very much appreciate it because we don't get so many opportunities. I've got to make sure it's gonna be something that puts a platform for me going forward. Hopefully, it can also help me cement my place in Bafana Bafana as well."
One of Phiri's bigger goals is to make a huge impact in France before going to La Liga in Spain, where he feels his football will match the kind of football played there.
"The biggest dream is obviously to play for the national team, which is the biggest honour. For me personally I would love to go and play in Spain.
"I think the Spanish La Liga is the most attractive league that any footballer would like to play in. It's based on technique and speed. It's a bit similar to SA, but at a much higher level. If I go there, I would have accomplished many things I wanted as a football player."
Phiri is very diplomatic when addressing the issue of players who chicken out of Europe before they are expected back home. He's too careful not to question their failure to appreciate their opportunities.
MAKING THE CHOICE
"I wouldn't say they are not taking it seriously. We all know why we go there," he said.
"The minute you make the choice of going abroad, you know the requirements that are needed and the amount of pressure you're going to be against.
"Going abroad, you've got so many things that are a disadvantage, such as the language, the playing style, the culture and, of course, before you leave, you've got nothing to expect of the country.
"I still urge a lot of South Africans to take that opportunity. It will open up their level of thinking.
"When you start appreciating the job that you have and the life that we live, it is not easy abroad. Nobody gives you anything. You have to work extra hard. Probably 10 times harder than the next guy because they are at home. It's very difficult.
"But I stand behind the players who took the decision to come back home. At the same time, I urge a lot more players to take the opportunity when it comes to going abroad."..