The defender says he’s keen to make up for lost time after  joining United from Orlando Pirates last month on a one-year deal.

Thwala was a free agent after Pirates decided not to renew his contract and Matsantsantsa have roped him into their ranks, but they have taken a cautious approach.

The defender’s career has been plagued by injury and with that in mind, United have offered him a one-year deal and depending on his contribution this season, they would take up another one-year option.

“I was unlucky with injuries during my stay at Pirates. Sometimes, when I was on top of my game and forgot about injuries, that’s where it came.

”But now I’m okay and I’m fit and itching to play,” he said.

The Nelspruit-born defender was  loaned to Platinum Stars by Pirates last season, but managed to get little game time with the North West side. The Buccaneers decided not to renew his contract on his return.

Before his loan to Stars, Thwala spent a season without playing football due to a knee injury, the major reason why his contract was not renewed. 

He said he had not been surprised when the club decided not to renew his contract despite him being with Pirates since 2004 as he believed that it was time for him to leave.

“Players coming and going is normal in football and my time  had come to  leave the team,” he said. “I was not surprised when they told me that my services were no longer needed. I saw it coming.

“I was  at Pirates for many years and when things happen, I know which direction it’s going and I saw the situation before they came to tell me,” he said.

“Now I’m with SuperSport,  a team that is right   for me. They are well organised and very professional. It is a team which gives players a chance to prove themselves.

“I thank coach Gavin Hunt for the faith he put in me even though for a long time I have not been  playing football, he still considered me and wanted my services, so I’m looking forward to doing well for the team,” he said.

Thwala could come up against his former team Pirates on Sunday in the MTN8 semifinal first leg at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane and the defender said he   relishes the prospect.

“It  depends with the coach   who he selects on the day, because it depends on how the opponents   will play,” he said. “ So I hope I will get a chance.

“But if I do get a chance, I will play my normal game. I don’t think I have anything to prove. Everyone knows what I can do and knows how I played at Pirates, so I have nothing to prove to anyone.”

The kick-off is 3pm on Sunday.