Rivaldo Coetzee praises Sekhukhune setup ahead of pending deal

The versatile player, released by Mamelodi Sundowns last July, had been training independently but recently gained access to Babina Noko’s facilities, with Eric Tinkler pushing for his signing. 

Speaking to Andile Ncube on Metro FM’s Sports Night Amplified, Coetzee described the club as one with significant potential.

"I like so much about the team, the ambition, I think they have a very good squad with good potential. They have a good technical team especially with the ex players around there who understand the human nature of a footballer so that helps as well,” Coetzee said. 

“The environment of the players around me, they've welcomed me with open arms. I feel like I'm integrated into the team as a player of the club."

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SABC Sport reported that Sekhukhune have tabled a short-term deal for Coetzee with performance-related conditions attached. 

He was vague when pressed for an update. 

"No, I have not, not yet but something I'd like to do, to play for Sekhukhune. So far things look like they are going in the right direction. It's just a matter of them deciding," he added.

The 29-year-old did confirm, however, that he’d been training with Babina Noko for three months having recovered from a long-term injury – one of the reasons Sundowns cut ties with him nine months ago. 

"My situation is a bit different, obviously people know me and what I've done so far in my career but then I'm coming back from a big injury, so teams are a bit skeptical sometimes to invest in a player that as you say people call me 'injury prone'.

“So, now they want to see where am I at, how is the injury? How does he react to intensity training again after being out for so long. So, I understand that people want to see, it's not a trial at all. 

“They've been kind enough to allow me to train. I was there for two months late last year but then I had a bit of a setback then I stopped for a while but then at the start of the year they allowed me to come back to train with them again. So, I've been training with them for maybe three months now."