Johannesburg - Ghana striker Asamoah Gyan says he is delighted to be back in South Africa ahead of the clash with Bafana Bafana.
The Black Stars meet Bafana at Soccer City on Wednesday - the same venue they controversially crashed out of the World Cup quarter-finals on penalties to Uruguay.
And even though Gyan missed a last-gasp penalty in regulation time of that clash - effectively costing his team's passage into the last-four - he insists he is happy to return.
"This is a great platform for us to say thank you South Africa for what you did for us during our stay," Gyan said on the Times Live website.
"We were treated like kings by everybody here. We did well at the World Cup because of the support we got from South Africans and other fellow African brothers and sisters.
"I still have great memories of this country and my plan is to come on holiday here soon. I have never been treated so well in a foreign country."
Gyan added that he expects a tough test in the upcoming friendly, as did team-mate Andre Ayew who is likewise excited for the tie.
"It feels good to be back in South Africa and we are looking forward to doing well on Wednesday," Ayew said.
The Black Stars meet Bafana at Soccer City on Wednesday - the same venue they controversially crashed out of the World Cup quarter-finals on penalties to Uruguay.
And even though Gyan missed a last-gasp penalty in regulation time of that clash - effectively costing his team's passage into the last-four - he insists he is happy to return.
"This is a great platform for us to say thank you South Africa for what you did for us during our stay," Gyan said on the Times Live website.
"We were treated like kings by everybody here. We did well at the World Cup because of the support we got from South Africans and other fellow African brothers and sisters.
"I still have great memories of this country and my plan is to come on holiday here soon. I have never been treated so well in a foreign country."
Gyan added that he expects a tough test in the upcoming friendly, as did team-mate Andre Ayew who is likewise excited for the tie.
"It feels good to be back in South Africa and we are looking forward to doing well on Wednesday," Ayew said.