Innocent Maela says he has put his injuries behind him as he focuses on doing a job for Bafana.
The Orlando Pirates left-back struggled with knocks this season and only played 17 games in all competitions, scoring one goal and creating another.
But such is the talent of the versatile player that he was included in Hugo Broos’ team for their Africa Cup of Nations qualifier with Morocco on Thursday.
Reflecting on overcoming an adductor longus injury that kept him sidelined for roughly four months, the 29-year-old full-back said he is ready to take what ever opportunity comes his way.
He said in the Sowetan: “Of course if you’ve been out for three, four months, it [the thought of relapsing] plays in your mind, so you have to really work on your mind after your rehab… to make sure you can trust your body and your abilities again.
“I am being cautious because I don’t want to go back to what happened before but I also don’t want to miss such opportunities because you’ll never know if you’ll get these opportunities again, so I am in that space right now but I am confident things will go well.
“Do I trust my body? Yes, but do I trust it to an extent where I can risk it? I am not sure.”