Retired goalkeeper Brilliant Khuzwayo has explained the reason behind his initial declaration that he was 'injury free' ahead of the 2019/20 season.
Khuzwayo has been forced into retirement due to a complication of his ankle injury suffered while on the books of Kaizer Chiefs, prior to his arrival at Orlando Pirates last season.
He was finally due to make his first public appearance for The Buccaneers in last weekend's Soweto Derby after being voted into the starting line-up by supporters.
However, this was not the case as the 29-year-old was withdrawn from the clash just hours before the voting lines closed, despite having earlier tweeted that he was "injury free".
READ: Chiefs' tribute to Khuzwayo
This sparked plenty of controversy and speculation surrounding the Umlazi-born shotstopper as the club itself failed to provide sufficient reasoning for the abrupt turn of events, but Khuzwayo has since provided clarity.
"It's been a hard journey, but mentally I was prepared for it. I needed to go back to myself and accept that, you know what, it didn't happen like I wanted it to be," explained the former Bafana Bafana gloveman on PiratesTV.
"In terms of being 'injury free' – I can be injury free but, in an elite sports, the doctors don't see me having the [level of] performance to perform at the highest level.
"So, I needed to come back to myself again and understand that because, if I don't accept that, I would live in pain thinking that, this could be this and that could be that.
"It's very important for me to shift my mindset. Right now, things are not going how I wished it would be, but God has decided things will go [down] this path to create a new chapter for me.
"And, if I accept the past and also accept the present, I will move [forward] and learn so much about life in general, because life doesn't end just playing football.
"It's up to me now to find another thing that will actually make me excited to continue, because I don't see myself getting outside of football."
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