 Lekgetho is the top foreigner in Russia |
Described by Russian sports daily Sport-Express as being "more Russian than most," South African winger Jacob Lekgetho has won the battle for hearts and minds in his adopted country. "I think he's won the highest praise a Russian can give a foreigner," said Sport-Express editor Vladimir Geskin.
Over the past year, Lekgetho helped Lokomotiv win the league for the first time in their 67-year history.
He was also voted the best foreign player by league coaches and experts.
Other African players have found it hard to adjust to life in Russia but Lekgetho said he has fallen in love with the country.
"It's my first home now because I really love this country, its people and its culture, as I begin to understand them better," he said.
 |  I really love this country and its people |
But the South African admitted that it took a while to adapt to his new environment.
"I had no idea about Russia when I first came here two years ago.
"At first, my main problem here was the language barrier. But after six months I was able to hold my own."
Lekgetho said he decided to make the move to Russia on the advice of coach Viktor Bondarenko, who was working in South Africa at the time.
The popularity of the Bafana-Bafana star is in stark contrast to Lokomotiv's former Nigerian striker James Obiorah, who had a hard time in Moscow.
Lokomotiv captain Dmitry Loskov, who called the Nigerian "too arrogant and selfish," had only nice things to say about Lekgetho.
"He is just like one of us, a real nice person, but most importantly, he gives his all for the team."
Racial taunts by young Russian fans has been a problem for many black players.
Cameroon defender Jerry-Christian Tchuisse quit Spartak Moscow earlier this year, saying he was too scared to walk the streets of the capital.
Lekgetho acknowledged that racism existed in Russian football but said he had rarely experienced it first-hand.
"Of course, the Russian mentality is very different, so I tried to analyse Russian people in order to understand them.
"But I also have to be humble," he said.
Lekgetho said he had learnt from an early age how to overcome obstacles in life.
"I've been fighting against the odds since childhood but I have also learnt to set goals for myself and achieve them."
Several supporters of Lokomotiv would agree with that statement.
MMIX
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