Sifiso Hlanti, a left-back with the Kaizer Chiefs, has addressed his sentiments on returning from a career-threatening injury that sidelined him for eight months.
The experienced left-footer played against Stellenbosch on Sunday for the first time since November 2021, when he was injured in training.
While the 32-year-old was out, the Soweto giants mostly used their right-back Reeve Frosler as a left-back because to his ability to play with either foot.
According to TimesLIVE, Hlanti said, “It was a terrific sensation to return to the field.”
“It was an honor and a joy to return to the field after a lengthy absence, I believe between six and seven months. It was a thrilling moment, and I was overjoyed to be back doing what I do.
“It was a lengthy road since I never anticipated being away of the game for so long. Without a positive outlook, someone else would not have been able to recover from the terrible injuries.
“My mental toughness allowed me to return to the game. It was a matter of mental attitude alone. This was the most important factor for me, and I value the person I’ve met here at Kaizer Chiefs.”
Left-back Sifiso Hlanti of Kaizer Chiefs – Facebook – Khosi4Life Unofficial
Hlanti continued by thanking his family members for their support throughout his recovery and said that his mental strength helped him along the road.
“She (his wife) had a significant part, and I believe that I am where I am now because to her.” When it comes to football, if you are psychologically strong, you know how to handle challenging situations.
“It’s not that I’m more important than the game or the squad, but no one can take this victory away from me because of my strong personality.” It was also a result of my attitude to the rehabilitation process.
“When you are thrown into the deep end, you realize that you must get up and confront those obstacles. The injury occurred during training. It wasn’t simple, but my reaction and response determined my success. Coach Stuart Baxter said, “It sounded like a gunshot.”