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Cape Town - Jabulani Shongwe says Golden Arrows boss Mato Madlala's talk of big plans for the KwaZulu-Natal club convinced him to join Abafana bes'Thende.
Shongwe struggled for game time at Bidvest Wits last season, although his reputation saw him linked with a move to some of South Africa's biggest clubs.
The 27-year-old midfielder opted for Arrows and with Abafana bes'Thende just one point off the top of the table after nine rounds of action, it looks to have been a good choice.
"It was an easy decision to join Arrows. Their style of play suites my game. I also saw an opportunity to play regularly," he told the Star.
"I'm still struggling with my fitness but slowly getting there. The boss (Mato Madlala) told me about her big plans for the club and I want to be the part of that project."
Shongwe says he had to dig deep into his character reserves when things were not going his way with the Clever Boys last term.
"Despite my frustration, I had to stay disciplined and focused," he added.
"It is all about knowing what you want. If you know what you want, you have to be focused even if you face challenges
"The coach (Gavin Hunt) gave me reasons as to why I was not playing, but obviously, as a player, it is difficult to understand why you're sitting on the bench because you were doing well the previous season. I had to stay strong."
Arrows are set to host Orlando Pirates in the Telkom Knockout last 16 clash on Saturday.
Kick off is at 15:30.
