Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Rivaldo Coetzee insists he never gave up on his dream of playing professional football.
The 26-year-old midfielder has suffered two career-threatening injuries and was advised by Celtic Football Club to call quit after failing a medical with the Scottish Premier League side.
But just like he bounced back from his first injury, Coetzee has come back strongly after making the move to Sundowns, where he was again sidelined in 2022.
He has been in fine form this season, playing a pivotal role for the Brazilians in thr current campaign.
Coetzee said on iDiski Times: “There’s never been any doubt in my mind [over my career] that this is what I wanted to do, all my life, so I knew that it’s going to require a little bit more and the mental part is very big, especially in sport in general.
"There was never any doubt – I knew I would come back."
— iDiski Times (@iDiskiTimes) September 28, 2023
Rivaldo Coetzee says he's never thought of giving up on football after two career-threatening injuries. https://t.co/PRBh3Ixq3O pic.twitter.com/rD8we7kqKB
“And then you have all these amazing people around you that help and guide you, a little bit of extra work in the gym with physios, focusing a lot on recovery, so there was never any doubt – I knew I would come back.
“It was just about being mentally strong and being in good shape, as the coach said, take care of your body, take care of your career as well.”
Coetzee added: “I always knew I would come back and then it’s a matter of controlling what you can, being your best at training every day. [Impress] in the gym, on the pitch, the rest is up to the technical team then.”
