AmaZulu latest: Ekstein admits past experience toughened him up

AmaZulu returnee Hendrick Ekstein is grateful for the opportunity granted to him by coach Romain Folz after months with DStv Diski Challenge team.

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Ekstein was with the first team last season but the arrival of Folz saw him being moved to the reserve team alongside Thabo Qalinge.

The duo were recently recalled as Folz struggled for positive results, and their impact is there for everyone to see at AmaZulu.

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Now, as Usuthu prepares to take on Ekstein’s former club, Kaizer Chiefs, the diminutive midfielder said the past period wasn’t difficult at all as it wasn’t new.

Ekstein said while he won’t mention names, his previous PSL club made him train with the Diski Challenge team. He only played for Chiefs before AmaZulu.

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“I’m happy he is giving me a chance as I’m coming from the Diski Challenge; he said I should show that I know how to play football and what I’m doing is I’m rewarding him back because he said he believes in me,” Ekstein told the media as per Sowetan.

“What I can promise the supporters is that I will work hard and if I get a push from the players and the coach who believe in us, I think things will go well.

“It is not me only but the whole team because if I can do well and the team does well, I think we can achieve more.”

“It is not something new that happened. I’m used to it, even where I was before they once did it to me. I won’t mention names. But I was once trained with the Diski team from the first team,” he said.

“So, it is something I’m used to. It is all about strong mentality and knowing what you want. For me, it was not a difficult thing.”

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