In the living room of Steven Pienaar's Florida home a picture of him in action for Ajax Cape Town four years ago takes pride of place.
In the picture, Pienaar is gliding almost effortlessly past Kaizer Chiefs defender Patrick Mabedi in a BP Top Eight game.
There's a look of anguish on Mabedi's face as he realises he's coming off distinctly second best, and one of determination and confidence on Pienaar's.
Pienaar was far too good for Mabedi and Chiefs on that occasion, scoring two goals in a 3-0 win for Ajax at the Johannesburg Stadium.
And, in fact, the youngster, born and raised in Johannesburg's Westbury township, was just far too good for anyone else in the domestic Premier Soccer League as well.
He's moved on to bigger, and much better, things with Ajax Amsterdam, where he's helped the Dutch superclub win the last two league titles and in record time stamped his authority on the star-studded Uefa Champions League, earning rave reviews for his performances against the likes of
Arsenal and AC Milan.
He's become a firm favourite of Ajax coach, Dutch legend Ronald Koeman, and has also attracted offers from clubs in England, Italy and Spain.
While it's Benni McCarthy who became the first South African to win a Uefa Champions League winners medal with Porto this week, it's the magic feet of the 22-year-old Pienaar that is Bafana Bafana's future.
It won't be Bafana's immediate future, sadly, as he wasn't named on Thursday in the squad to play the Cape Verde islands in Bafana's opening 2006 World Cup qualifier in Bloemfontein next Saturday.
The damaged nerve in his left shin which caused him to miss five months of the recently-completed Dutch season, as well as January's African Nations Cup tournament, hasn't quite recovered.
Bafana coach Stuart Baxter said yesterday, however, that Pienaar would "definitely" be back for the game against Ghana in Kumasi in three weeks' time.
"Two of my Ajax teammates, Aboubacar Yacubu and Anthony Obodia, play for the Ghana national team and I'm looking forward to playing against them. I've often teased them at training and said that Ghana have never made it to the World Cup finals and they won't be going this time either," joked Pienaar in an interview at his home this week.
He is a commodity well worth protecting and he will undoubtedly play an influential role as Bafana go in search of a third successive World Cup appearance in Germany, needing to get past a qualifying group that includes Uganda, Burkina Faso and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Pienaar was part of Jomo Sono's squad that went to the 2002 World Cup in Korea and Japan, but he was a youngster then and didn't get any game time. He, in any event, didn't feel his place was warranted then, but is keen to play a big role in helping South Africa get to Germany 2006.
"At the 2002 World Cup I was sitting there and thinking to myself that I was not part of the qualifying games and was taking someone else's place. This time I want to say I worked hard to get there. I deserve it, and I didn't get there on someone else's sweat. We're in a difficult group. Burkina Faso, in particular, have a really good team and the places in which we will have to go and play will be difficult. If the players are not mentally prepared to fight for their country, it will cost us," said Pienaar.
From an early age he's always had a great work ethic and a great desire to be a winner.
"I always wanted to win every game I was playing, even as a kid. I always wanted to be the best," said Pienaar.
It's a work ethic he gets from his mother, Denise, who had to raise the family single-handedly after Pienaar's father passed away shortly after he was born.
The noticeably spotless floors and furniture suggest a family brought up well with Denise Pienaar's strong, disciplined hand.
Not many from Westbury make their dreams come true and her role was a vital one.
"When we lived in Westbury, my sister, Jocelyn, and I would clean the house, but my mom would shout at us that we're not doing it properly. Even now, when I say to her we can get a domestic to help, she insists on cleaning the house herself.
She wants things to be perfect. She's always been a hard-working person and that quality has rubbed off on me. I always work hard on the pitch and I believe in discipline. I firmly believe that what you put in at training, you will get out in the game. Discipline and determination is everything," said Pienaar.
And it's the determination of former Bafana captain Neil Tovey he feels epitomises playing for Bafana.
"Neil Tovey wore the national jersey with pride. He always wanted to win and showed the jersey meant a lot to him. And when I first put it on, I didn't want to take it off. You have to deserve to play for your country," said Pienaar.
He realised quickly that the gap between the domestic PSL and top-flight international football is a big one.
"In the PSL now the pace is so slow. When we played against Australia, there wasn't even time to hold on to the ball. In the recent camp in England, Stuart Baxter worked on us playing one or two touch football and getting forward and hitting our opponents quickly. He's got good ideas and if he can get it right, with the skill we have, we can kill of a lot of opponents," said Pienaar.
And, for many years to come, he could well be Bafana's executioner in chief.
Steven Pienaar Fact file
Born: March 17 1982
Birthplace: Westbury, Johannesburg
Bafana debut: March 29 2002 v Madagascar
Bafana caps: 4
Nickname: Schilo (after Italy international Salvatore 'Toto' Schillaci)
Studied at the School of Excellence and moved to Ajax Cape Town in 1999.
Moved to Ajax Amsterdam in January 2001 and signed a five-year contract.
So highly regarded, that he was initially given the famous Ajax number 10 jersey by coach Ronald Koeman.
Was part of Jomo Sono's 2002 Bafana World Cup squad in Korea and Japan.
Has for the last two years been nominated in the Young Player of the Year category by the Confederation of African Football.
Helped Ajax win the league and cup double in 2002 in his debut season and again in the 2003/2004 season.
Has played with distinction in the Uefa Champions League for the last two seasons, scoring in the 2002/2003 quarterfinal against AC Milan.