Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Sphelele Mkhulise says his time away from the club on loan has helped make him a more complete player.
The 25-year-old has played for Black Leopards and Richards Bay since making the step-up into first team football.
This season though he is hoping to make his mark with the Brazilians having made his return ahead of the upcoming campaign and after a successful COSAFA Cup campaign with the South African national side.
Speaking to the Sowetan, Mkhulise explained: “I learnt a lot of things during my loan stints. The loans afforded me that experience of being in a professional set-up because before I went out on loan, I was just playing for youth teams. Being on loan made me the player I am today.
“The time I was at Leopards we were chasing the [second tier] championship but we couldn’t win it as we ended up in the play-offs, even though we were also never successful. So, I returned to Sundowns knowing how it feels to fight for the league. At Bay we were fighting for survival, so I also know that feeling.”
Mkhulise added: “I am very happy about Bafana call-ups. It’s every SA player’s dream to play for Bafana, so I am grateful. I think I grabbed the opportunity with both hands, especially in the Cosafa Cup.”