Johannesburg - Luyolo Nomandela has thanked Moroka Swallows boss Leon Prins for rescuing his career after he completed his loan move from Mamelodi Sundowns this week.
The former Free State Stars winger joined the Brazilians at the beginning of the season and, after failing to nail a starting place in the star-studded side, Nomandela believed his career was not going anywhere.
"I have never experienced something like this in my football career and after Swallows came back knocking, I knew I had to make a move," Nomandela said.
"I went to Sundowns with the view of fighting for a place in the starting line-up but I was never given a chance and I felt my career was not going anywhere.
"I am at Swallows until the end of the season but I am thrilled to have joined them at a moment when my career had stalled."
The 25-year-old winger, who can also play as a left-back and shoot from long range, said he might have failed in his bid to convince coach Pitso Mosimane at Sundowns that he could do a better job than some of the other players.
"Maybe I failed but how can I prove myself if I'm not given a chance? Maybe when I go back to Sundowns at the end of the season I will be a hungrier player to stake my claim but I know I gave my best".
While Sundowns were used to competing for silverware, Nomandela said he was used to fighting relegation, something he had to do at Free State Stars.
"I was at Stars last season when he we needed to beat Swallows in our bid to escape relegation so I am not worried about the situation," he said.
"I have been with the team for three days now and I have seen that this team is too good to be relegated."
Nomandela said he would play his best football for Swallows interim coach Fani Madida to ensure the Dube Birds moved safely away from the relegation zone when the league resumed in February.
Swallows finished the year by beating AmaZulu 2-1 and Nomandela said he looked forward to their next opponents - Sundowns.
"I cannot wait for that moment where my first official game for Swallows will be against Sundowns. The training programme is not much different from Sundowns so I have already settled in nicely."