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Kaizer Chiefs right-back Zitha Kwinika is very much back in the fold after many thought he was on his way out of the club.
However, with some game time in the last few matches of the season and some stellar performances, the Meadowlands-born defender secured a one-year extension at Amakhosi.
Kwinika received sufficient game time during the recent European pre-season tour in Holland, and with a new lifeline at the club, he says they benefited fully from this trip.
"For me to do well, I need my teammates by my side, it's very important for us to sync as a group and I think this pre-season camp was an effective one for the entire group," said the staunch defender.
Chiefs will wrap up their preparations for the new season with an international friendly when they play Ghanaian giants Asante Kotoko in the Toyota Cup game at the Moses Mabhida stadium in Durban on Saturday.
Kwinika says this game also gives them an idea of what to expect in the CAF Confederation Cup this season.
"I think the supporters must expect a different team this season, we are growing as a group, and we learned so much from this camp, and we get to test our new knowledge against our African brothers.
"But we are still laying the building blocks," explained Kwinika.
Ranked sixth in the world, the Dutch Eredivisie boasts some of the top clubs in Europe, and Kwinika says the quality of the opposition they faced in Holland was a very good test ahead of the new season.
"The level here is a bit high over there, yes, football being football, but they understand the moments and the details really well, they know exactly when, where, and how to press, and their passing is so accurate."
Despite losing four of their five matches in Holland, Kwinika, a Chiefs youth product who also played at Chippa United and Bidvest Wits, believes that they finished with their confidence levels high.
