As former Kaizer Chiefs star Teenage Hadebe gears up for another season in Major League Soccer, he has highlighted a factor that affected his first season at FC Cincinatti.
The Zimbabwean joined the American outfit as a free agent in August last year – just a few months before the Conference semi-finals in November and the deciding match at the beginning of December – and made just seven appearance in his first season at the club.
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With the new season set to kick off in February, the 29-year-old who spoke to the club's official website, explained the effect that joining the side so late in the season had on him.
"Last time I came on, the season was about to end. I'm going to start with everyone this year. I think it's always important as a player not to miss the preseason, because if you miss preseason, sometimes some of the things you end up lost on," he said.
"You get used to the people, get used to the style of play, the coaches, the structure, the philosophy, things like that. It's difficult to catch up, especially when the guys are already fitting together."
Now, as he prepares to get a full pre-season under his belt, the defender revealed that he will be giving everything he can from the get-go.
"That is just who I am. This is my club so I want to give it everything, that's how I was raised and that's what feels right to me," Hadebe explained.
"I am ready to sacrifice for this club, to give it everything I have."
The former Chiefs star added: "I'm happy that I'm going to start with the guys in things like team bonding."
"We know each other well and I think we're gonna have a good time with the guys.
"So it's a good time to get to know each other - including the coaching staff, the training staff, the administration, the content, everyone - even better.
"I like that part of training camps so it's something I'm looking forward to."
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