THOHOYANDOU – The new star of Black Leopards, Nkhuphitheni Matombo, has promised to set a record by becoming the first player from the team to receive a call-up for the national squad, Bafana Bafana.

Matombo, who signed a two year-contract with Leopards, after being on loan from Manning Rangers, said he was going to work hard to make sure that he revived his career with his local team.

Matombo joined Rangers in 1997, where he became the first player from Limpopo to win caps in the Under 20 and 23 teams under the guidance of Shakes Mashaba, now the Bafana Bafana coach.

Matombo last played for a national team when he participated in the 2000 Olympic Games for the Under 23 team. Since then, his promising career faded somewhat, which he claims happened because of the changing of coaches in the team. He was also on the transfer list a number of times since then.

Matombo, from Muledane near Thohoyandou, said he was delighted to join Leopards, after the team's leader, David Thidiela, had made him a good offer. "I am working very hard in order to make sure that I win a position in the team. I will give Leopards 120%, so that we can finish in the top four at the end of the coming season. My other ambition is to win a national cap. I know that it is not easy, but if you are doing well in your team, there is a 50% chance of getting a national cap. I know there is a belief that, if you play for teams like Leopards, it is difficult to win a national cap. However, I can assure you that I am going to be that first player to win a national cap."

He added that he was the first player from this area to play for a national under 20 and 23 team. "So, this is my second mission," said Matombo.