Coetzee cherishes being PSL champion
Prodigy itches for next season already
With many having written Mamelodi Sundowns defender Rivaldo Coetzee off and going as far as saying his career was over, the comeback kid recently revealed that the thought of retiring has never crossed his mind. Coetzee was out of football for more than a year after suffering a foot injury in 2017.
The 22-year-old made his debut for Sundowns back in November – some 15 months after signing with the club. Now he finds himself a champion after the Brazilians clinched the league title at the weekend. “There was no doubt in my mind that I will play
again. People will always talk without facts,” Coetzee said. “I knew that I will come back and be stronger. I feel much better now and I hope next season will even be better.”
The prodigy from Kakamas in the Northern Cape made 12 league appearances for Downs in the last stage of the season as they edged Orlando Pirates to the title. It was a record ninth league title in the club’s prestigious PSL history. Coetzee admitted that being champion is a delightful experience. “It’s an amazing feeling. Last season we won the
title but I didn’t play any games. This season is even more special after such a tough schedule,” he said. In those dozen matches he played, Coetzee showed his versatility as he featured in both midfield and defence. “I’m happy to help the team even though they have changed my position. But I’m not complaining because I am happy to help the team in any way,” Coetzee said.
“I do the job to the best of my abilities and learn from our veteran midfielders in the team. So when I play there (in the midfield) it makes it a little bit easier.”