New AmaZulu defender Sandile Mthethwa says he still harbours hopes of Bafana Bafana and leaving Orlando Pirates was needed for his career ambitions.
Mthethwa, 27, left Pirates this month after securing a mutual termination, before joining AmaZulu ahead of the January window.
It marked the end of his nine years at the club he joined as a teenager from the KZN Academy, as they beat competition from Portugal for his services.
However, he never quite established himself in the Pirates first team as he went on four separate loan deals with Richards Bay and Chippa United before showing signs under Jose Riveiro that he could become a key figure making 20 appearances over two seasons.
But in the 2024/25 campaign, his prospects were dashed due to the emergence of Thabiso Sesane who has been partnered alongside Olisa Ndah and Nkosanathi Sibisi, while Tapelo Xoki is set to return from injury imminently.
“I can never be fed up with a team that made me, but it was a decision for me that I have a lot to give and to show the country, I still want to represent my country and I feel like being outside not playing, was me wasting my time in football,” he said.
Mtethwa made his Bafana debut at the age of 20 under then head coach Stuart Baxter in 2017, and amassed seven appearances for the senior national team.
“I’m 27 right now and years are going by, this is where I am supposed to play, being a regular in a club, so my previous home didn’t give me that opportunity,” he added.
“We had a discussion, a mutual agreement to leave, not that Pirates terminated the contract. It was a mutual agreement, so that’s the case.”
Mthethwa won two MTN8 and two Nedbank Cup titles during his time at the club.
