Bidvest Wits midfielder Thabang Monare has revealed that the jubilation of claiming the MTN8 trophy did not undo the pain of relegation with Jomo Cosmos.

Monare was part of the Comos side that fought long and hard for safety in the top flight only to be condemned to the drop in the final minutes of the season.

Having since made the move to Wits the midfielder has instantly tasted success as his new side as they thrashed Mamelodi Sundowns 3-0 in a one-sided final this past weekend.

Despite the joy of that success, however, Monare has revealed he remains haunted by his former side’s relegation failure.

‘It [winning the MTN8 final] felt so good, I can’t even explain the joy that I felt, especially getting my first silverware or medal in my home province [Mpumalanga],’ Monare told KickOff.

‘I don’t even have words for the joy that I still feel even now, but that still doesn’t erase the fact that I will be [forever] be on the list of players that got Cosmos relegated,’ he explained.

Monare also spoke of his good combination play with Xola Mlambo in the centre of the park, insisting the pair’s understanding was a spontaneous connection.

‘When it comes to the combination of me and Xola, I don’t think that is something that I’d say I know what is really behind it,’ he said.

‘I think that the coach [Gavin Hunt] gives both of us different tasks. When we do those tasks it becomes the so-called “great combination”.’

Monare has been recognised as Man of the Match in two of his seven games across all competitions for Wits already this season.

Photo: Dirk Kotze/Gallo Images