Swallows FC striker Ruzaigh Gamildien says there are no hard feelings after his proposed move to Kaizer Chiefs fell through.
Gamildien was expected to join Amakhosi on a two-year contract before the club pulled out of the deal following the arrival of new coach Stuart Baxter.
Following the breakdown, the striker has since returned to Swallows for pre-season training after enjoying the holidays with his family in Cape Town.
“I am back at Swallows. I am happy at Swallows and I have been doing well at the club. At the end I am still contracted to the club, so I am happy to remain with Swallows,” Gamildien said in an interview.
The Dube Birds have already lost Njabulo Ngcobo to Chiefs, but Gamildien insists he remains committed to the club ahead of the new season.
“There are no hard feelings,” he says. “Such things happen in football. Obviously, everyone will be excited to play for team like Kaizer Chiefs but, as I said, I am still happy to continue playing for Swallows. My focus and commitment remain with the club at the moment.”
Swallows boss David Mogashoa also expressed his happiness in having the 32-year-old remain with the club after an impressive 2020/21 campaign.
“Yes, there talks but nothing was concrete. Ruzaigh Gamildien is still happy at Swallows. He will be playing for Swallows this coming season,” he added.
The deal failing to go through might seem like a miss for Gamildien but in reality, it is a miss for Chiefs as well. The experienced forward has been prolific over recent seasons and it would have been a straightforward deal for Amakhosi, getting a player who already understands the league and would hit the ground running almost immediately.
However, Gamildien likely doesn’t fit the profile of a forward Baxter wants and that surely means Amakhosi will look somewhere else.