South African starlet sets sights on playing for Barcelona

Sweden-based South African midfielder Keanin Ayer says he one day wants to play for Barcelona in Spain's La Liga alongside the likes of Lionel Messi and company.

Ayer currently plays his football for Varbergs BoIS FC in the Swedish second tier where he has been played in a variety of positions.

The 18-year-old has had a remarkable journey to professional football having left South Africa as a 10-year-old to join the Right to Dream Academy in Ghana.

It later won him a move to Varbergs where he is seemingly beginning to catch the eye for the outfit based on the west coast of that country.

Speaking to KickOff website, he said: "I like to be aggressive, winning the ball like [Ander] Hererra, he's small you know but he doesn't fear anything or anyone.

"That's my main strengths but I can fulfill other roles, deep-lying, box-to-box and I have the 'shibobo' in my locker if needed.

"Kaizer Chiefs and Manchester United (are the teams he supports), so it's been a rough few years for me as a football supporter [laughs] and players...Steven Pienaar, Teko Modise, those are the players I look up to, really top players.

"All leagues are never easy, but I'm doing well, I'm adapting very well. As a young player you always have a lot to learn and I understand the dynamics of this as an 18-year-old. The training is improving me, making me more fit.

"My dreams? I want to captain the South African national team, also FC Barcelona? I want to play for them, it's my ultimate dream.

"I see myself getting a bigger move at the end of this season, I don't see myself staying here for long, I just want to progress, maybe get into the Allsvenskan and use that to accelerate to my development."