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Cape Town - Mpumalanga Black Aces midfielder Thanduyise Khuboni has paid homage to Mushin Ertugral for giving him a new lease of life with the high-flying Premiership side.
The deep-lying playmaker was once herald as the most talented player in South Africa by former Bafana Bafana coach Carlos Alberto Parreira during his time in charge but has since gone unnoticed after falling out of the national team squad selections.
After his former club Golden Arrows were relegated in the 2013-2014 campaign, Khuboni was snapped up by Amazayoni but the move didn't go to plan for the midfielder as he struggled for regular game-time under Clive Barker.
"The one thing that really frustrated me was when people kept saying that I can't compete out of [away from] Golden Arrows. That hurt me and I wanted to prove that I can compete anywhere," he said as quoted by the Sunday World.
This season however, has seen an upturn in fortunes for the elegant left-footed midfielder when his former coach Mushin Ertugal was hired as the club's new manager and has become one of the first names of the team-sheet.
"My confidence is back, in Muhsin I have a coach who understands me as a player because we also worked well together at Arrows.
"The coach respects me and my experience. That gives me confidence going forward and that's why I've been performing well this season."
Since making his Premiership debut for Abafana Bes'thende in 2006, Khuboni has made a record 217 appearances, scoring 17 goals.
