Rivaldo Coetzee has finally opened up about his failed switch to Celtic in 2017. The player got as far as his medical before a broken bone in his foot sent him back to Cape Town with the deal dead in the water.
The injury almost forced him to retire but the defender fought back and regained fitness after the op to fix it. Coetzee didn’t let the move stop him from progressing in his homeland, moving to Mamelodi Sundowns, where he has won two titles.
When asked if he thought about the failed move, the 23-year-old opened up and admitted that it was something he has thought on a lot – as reported in South African outlet Mail and Guardian.
“Wow, almost every day.
“I keep thinking about it. It might not be good for me, but maybe it could be good for my career to think about why they wanted to sign me.
“There must have been something that I did well for them to see that.
“I have to try and get back to that level.
“I’m playing in a different position but it’s always to try and get better: to help the team and contribute to its success.
“And then, hopefully, another opportunity will arrive.”
It will be interesting to see if Coetzee gets the move to Europe that he desires and whether Celtic are keeping tabs on the 19 cap South African defender.
