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Khumalo: PSL not an option

Johannesburg - Bafana Bafana defender Bongani Khumalo has no intention of returning to the Premier Soccer League, according to the player's agent.

The former SuperSport United captain has endured a difficult time since signing joining Premier League giants Tottenham in January 2011, with the centre back having failed to make a single appearance for the club, having been loaned out to Preston North End and Reading.

However, the player's representative, Glyn Binkin, says his client is determined to stick it out in north London and earn his place in Harry Redknapp's squad.

"Bongani has made it clear on his side that he wants to remain in Europe and he hopes to get an opportunity at Tottenham Hotspur. He is still contracted to the club for another three years and he will go back to Tottenham for pre-season at the beginning of July," Binkin told Football411.

Khumalo, who has had to contend with playing second fiddle to Siyabonga Sangweni and Morgan Gould in Bafana's central defence, was sent on loan to PNE two months after arriving in London and was later loaned to the Royals.

However, the Championship club released him back to Spurs halfway through his season-long loan after failing to nail down a regular place in the side since the end of August 2011, partly due to injuries.

Despite the challenges ahead of the player, Binkin insists that Khumalo can make it in Europe.

"There is no chance of him coming back to South Africa. He is not going to come back because it suits everybody else and Bongani will do what's right for Bongani. He will be patient," Binkin continued.

"In many respects Bongani reminds me of a young Lucas Radebe, who went to Leeds United at age 24 and initially, he struggled with injuries. But Lucas got his chance eventually and he made a success of his career in England, so hopefully it will be the same with Bongani. I'm very confident that Bongani can make it in England."

Binkin added: "I think what people need to realise is that Bongani is learning a lot despite the fact that he has not got his chance yet with the first team. The standard in the reserve league or in Tottenham's youth side is incredibly high so he has developed and become a better player."

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