Bafana Bafana left-back Sifiso Hlanti has spoken for the first time in the media about his failed overseas move.
The Bidvest Wits player made a name for himself in the Africa Cup of Nations last 16 stage when South Africa beat hosts Egypt 1-0, helped in large part by Hlanti marking CAF Player of the Year Mohammed Salah out of the game for the whole 90 minutes.
That performance saw the 29-year-old attract interest from countries as far as the United States, but nothing has materialised as Hlanti edges closer to making his return following a knee injury.
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"I don't want that to be something that will bring a tension in between, you see," Hlanti tells snl24.com/kickoff.
"So as for me, I have left that with the owners of both teams because I've got nothing to do about this. I have to respect and honour my contract, and do the right thing. If the right time is going to come, then it's fine it will come.
"You know growing up and being mature makes you realise that some things you must not take them with anger you see. So I won't say I'm disappointed, there's no need for me to talk like that because talks like that end up letting you down. So I'm always positive."
Pressed further on what exactly led to the USA deal not happening, Hlanti said he was also in the dark.
"When it comes to that I have no idea my brother. I don't have a clue of what happened."
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Hlanti could play his first game of the season when Wits visit Eswatini side Young Buffaloes in the second leg of their CAF Confederation Cup second-round match on Saturday (15h30).
"Ja I'm with the team travelling. I'm happy to be able to come back to play again and I'm looking forward to it. To me all games are important. I want to do more than I did before in terms of performing. I want to do it for myself and not to prove a point to anyone.
"We have players who played in the AFCON in the team, local and foreign players they were there. I've been on the sidelines for quite some time, for about six weeks. I will do my best to do the right thing. You will never know how far we can go."
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Hlanti says it is not true that at Wits the club does not view CAF competitions as a priority.
"Those are the words that people always say and there's nothing you can do about that. Us as players we respect the team so there's no way we can choose games because at times such games build a good relationship in the squad. They also make a team to be more strong and balanced."