SA stars abroad: Nkota lifts Saudi club to victory as ex-Chiefs skipper wins big in Austria

Bafana Bafana forward Mohau Nkota played a key role in his side Al-Ettifaq’s 2-1 win in the Saudi Pro League on Saturday.

Nkota, who was played at left wing-back, showed his versatility with a good shift both in defence and attack as he provided the assist for Al Ettifaq’s equaliser against Al Kholood.

Al Kholood went ahead courtesy of Ramiro Enrique’s 16^th minute goal but Khalid Al-Ghannam leveled matters in the 50^th minute after Nkota’s nice cut-back before he sealed his brace with the winner for Al-Ettifaq in the 83rd minute.

Victory left Al-Ettifaq in seventh position on the 18-team table with 29 points from 17 matches with Nkota now with two goals and three assists in 14 games since signing for the club ahead of this season.  

Which other Mzansi player starred abroad?

Meanwhile, in Austria, former Kaizer Chiefs captain Yusuf Maart and ex-Stellenbosch FC star Antonio van Wyk both played as SV Ried thrashed Austria Salzburg 4-1 in their final friendly match before the Austrian Bundesliga resumes.

Ried, who were in sixth position when the league took a break, will be hoping for a fine second half of the season and possibly secure European football qualification.

Elsewhere, former Stellenbosch FC coach Steve Barker started his CAF Champions League reign with Tanzanian giants Simba with a 1-0 loss to Tunisian giants Esperance in Tunis.

Barker fielded former Mamelodi Sundowns defender Rushine de Reuck in defence from the off while Neo Maema was an 82^nd minute substitute.