Language no barrier for goal-hungry Marcos

He blends in seamlessly to the South African eye. His light brown skin wouldn't warrant a second look from most locals.

However, the man I speak of isn't coloured and he isn't even South African. Marcos De Jesus is from Sao Paulo, the largest city in Brazil. And while his skin colour may not be foreign to a South African, everything else is. As I meet with the BidVest Wits striker who's set the PSL alight this season with some amazing goals, I do so along with a third party. Wits midfielder Richard Ferreira, a South African of Portuguese descent, translates between us.

De Jesus, 23, known as Pepe among his team-mates, is powerfully built. Standing 1,83m he has a lethal right foot and is strong in the air. He's adapted quickly to South African league football and is currently tied second among the PSL goal scorers. All four of his goals have been scored in his last three outings.

"In Brazil you have more time on the ball," De Jesus said through Ferreira. "In South Africa it's more physical and you only get one touch."

For the teams he's scored against this season, which include a brace against Kaizer Chiefs, that's one touch too many. Like many Brazilians he was playing with a football not long after he started walking. He made his professional debut for Primavera aged 16. De Jesus progressed to Internacional SP before signing for Wits. Inter were touring the country and played against the Wits Under-23 team. De Jesus impressed and was quickly signed.

"In the beginning it was tough here," De Jesus said.

"The toughest part was leaving my family, but I wanted to leave Brazil and find a new challenge and make more money."

Even with a better salary De Jesus misses his home country. In Brazil it isn't uncommon for men and women to live with their parents and siblings well into their twenties. Even after one marries or leaves home family ties are still considered integral to Brazilian culture.

"I miss my son," De Jesus said. "He's one and a half years old."

While De Jesus may have more loose change to make the long distance call back home, he's still finding his way with his new family here. The Brazilian doesn't speak any English and it's virtually impossible for manager Boebie Solomons to communicate directly with him in practice. Ferreira, fellow Brazilian Danilo Julio or Eric Tinkler have to do the translating.

He'll be starting English lessons shortly.

Just because he doesn't understand what's being said doesn't mean his peers don't address him. An unseen team-mate shouts "man of the moment" as he passes by De Jesus, Ferreira and I conducting the interview. And while the Brazilian hadn't a clue what that meant the language of football is one De Jesus is more than fluent at.