Football
Nick Said, Special to ESPN 7y

Rivaldo Coetzee apologises, returns to Ajax training

Wantaway Ajax Cape Town defender Rivaldo Coetzee has returned to pre-season training, albeit with the club's reserve side, after going on strike in order to try and win a move away from the club.

African champions Mamelodi Sundowns have expressed interest in signing the 20-year-old Bafana Bafana international, but have balked at the US$1-million asking price of the Cape Town club.

Coetzee refused to start pre-season with the club earlier this month and rather trained on his own, but has now returned, offering apologies in a video message distributed by the club.

"Firstly I would like to apologise to the club, to the coaches and all my teammates for the way I behaved for the past three weeks," he said.

"Ajax Cape Town has played a big role in my career and development so far. Me and the club are working together to develop even further. I am happy to say I spoke to coach [Stanley] Menzo and I apologised to him.

"We will decide what the future holds for me at the club. I am happy to say I have returned to training with the MDC team." Ajax CEO Ari Efstathiou says the club are pleased with the about-turn by the player.

"Rivaldo offered a heartfelt apology to the club, staff, coaches, and to our fans, one which we have accepted," Efstathiou said.

"We are happy that he has taken responsibility for his actions in a mature manner and accepted any decision made by the DC [Disciplinary Committee] regarding his absence from training since the start of pre-season."

Coetzee has expressed his desire to play in Europe next seasons, but it appears as though there have been no concrete offers for his services, leaving Sundowns as a viable option.

He made his PSL debut for Ajax as a 17-year-old in February 2014 and within eight months made his international bow as well, briefly holding the title as South Africa's youngest ever international before a month later that mantle was taken by Fagrie Lakay.

He has largely been a regular since for the national side in competitive internationals, winning 24 caps to date.

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