Johannesburg - Bidvest Wits head coach Gavin Hunt admitted his disappointment after star playmaker Sibusiso Vilakazi left the club to join Premiership rivals Mamelodi Sundowns.
Sundowns signed Vilakazi in a bumper deal that saw Mogakalodi Ngele and Cuthbert Malajila move the other way.
Hunt claims that the Brazilians went all-out in their pursuit of the 26-year-old midfielder, who they have been chasing since 2014.
"It is always sad to see a player go, but this happens. The pressure came from their side - he was happy to stay," Hunt told the Citizen.
"[Pre-season] has been good. The whole Vilakazi thing was pending so now it is done and we can start working on our best combinations and get going.
"Now our attack looks very strong, also with James Keene, Eleazar Rodgers, Gabadinho Mhango and Phakamani Mahlambi."
Hunt also praised the signing of Bafana Bafana goalkeeper Darren Keet from FC Kortrijk in Belgium.
"There has to be a natural progression and changeover, we also have young Carl Peters. We are very happy to get a guy like [Keet], it is a good signing."