Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Brilliant Khuzwayo has confirmed he will be available for selection at the start of the 2019/20 season.
The 29-year-old joined the Buccaneers at the start of the recently concluded campaign after parting ways with Kaizer Chiefs, but has yet to make his first-team debut due to a serious ankle injury.
However, after featuring for the club’s Multichoice Diski Challenge team, Khuzwayo feels he will be ready to play at the start of next season.
“Definitely the beginning of next season I’ll be back on the pitch,” Khuzwayo was quoted as saying by KickOff.
“Obviously I missed first team football, but then again playing in the MDC was more of a way of preparing myself and get back to fitness.
“Most people didn’t look at it in that way, but it’s their opinion. For me it was about getting back and getting the ankle strong.
“When you have been out of the game for some time you lack match fitness. When you are dealing with an ankle injury, sometimes you get a knock and it takes you back and forth.
“It’s very frustrating, but you need a strong mindset to keep going because there’s no other choice but to keep going. Most definitely I’m going to come back stronger and I’m very prepared for next season.”
Khuzwayo has been capped four times by Bafana Bafana, and made 28 first-team appearances for Chiefs during a six-year spell at Naturena.