Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Themba Zwane has not always enjoyed stardom at the club and has opened up about the time he felt disappointed about being sent away on loan.
Zwane has risen to the cream of the crop at Sundowns, playing a starring role for the defending Absa Premiership champions in recent seasons.
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However, in his nine-year spell at the club thus far, the 30-year-old has had to bide his time in the shadows of the likes of Khama Billiat, Keagan Dolly, Percy Tau and others.
After joining The Brazilians back in 2011, Zwane met a determined Mosimane that sent him out on loan to Mpumalanga Black Aces for the 2013/14 season, while the league trophy was delivered to Chloorkop.
This did not go down well with 'Mshishi', who needed the support of Downs legend Surprise Moriri to spur him on through a difficult period filled with uncertainty and self-doubt.
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"The time they told me I was going on loan [to Aces] I was disappointed, but Surprise [Moriri] gave me a call the next day before I went to training at Aces," Zwane reveals to snl24.com/kickoff.
"He said to me, 'You must understand one thing, a loan doesn't mean you are a bad player. It only means you must go there and get game-time and improve yourself, then come back and prove that you can play for a big team like Sundowns.'
"After that, I didn't doubt myself. I think Surprise was right, I didn't even feel the disappointment anymore, I just calmed myself, went there and I did well for myself."
Under coach Clive Barker, Zwane discovered his potential and went on to play 30 games in all competitions to help the club clinch a seventh place finish in the league.
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