Young Chelsea Star Sets Sights on Representing Bafana Bafana in the Future, Hampered by Paperwork

• Bafana Bafana could have a promising Chelsea player on their books in the near future if all goes according to plan
• Joshua Royston Brooking is currently rising through the youth setup of last season's European champions
• The 19-year-old is reported to be keen on one day representing South Africa at senior level, though paperwork will prevent this from happening for the foreseeable future

Chelsea youth player Joshua Royston Brooking is reportedly keen on turning out in Bafana Bafana colours in the near future.

The 19-year-old defender is working his way up through the former European champions' youth setup, and is unknown in local football circles. He was born in England in 2002 to a South African father and an English mother, and is said to have admiration for his dad's country of birth, which he visits every off-season in June.

According to FARPost, Royston Brooking is a hard-tackling centre back who joined the Blues from Reading at the start of the 2018/19 campaign. He has made over 100 appearances for both the Under-18 and Under-23 development sides – including 15 appearances in the UEFA Youth League.

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Goal quoted his agent Anthony McFarlen saying:

“Josh is very keen on representing South Africa, but there might be some difficulties with his dad’s papers as they have expired, and he hasn’t renewed them. So I think there is going to be some difficulties in getting Josh to play.

If there was a way or a means for the South African Football Association (Safa) to assist in resolving the matter, then it could be resolved, but I think the matter is a little complicated than we first expected.”

Brooking is one of several South African youngsters making waves across top academies in Europe. Khanya Leshabela is at Leicester City, Kgaogelo Chauke captains Southampton's reserves, Lucas Jetten and Daniel Jordan, while Simon van Duivenbooden recently made his bow in Vitesse Arnhem's senior team.

Talented Southampton FC youngster, Kgaogelo Chauke, has officially obtained his South African passport.

As reported by Sports Brief, the highly-rated star was born in Pretoria but moved to the United Kingdom with his parents when he was 1-year old.

Born in Mamelodi, the captain of Southampton’s reserve side was recently on holiday in South Africa and sorted out his passport while in the country,