New Zealand striker Jeremy Brockie says it did not take much convincing him to join Maritzburg United on loan from Mamelodi Sundowns.

Team of Choice general manager Quintin Jetto arrived at the Premier Soccer League offices in Johannesburg just before 11pm on Monday evening to secure the signing of the Kiwi striker on transfer deadline day.

Brockie arrived at Chloorkop in a sensational R15-million move from Tshwane rivals SuperSport United in January 2018, but has struggled to break into the Sundowns first team. He scored only one domestic goal in one-and-a-half seasons at the reigning Absa Premiership champions.

He joins Eric Tinkler’s side and will be looking to recapture the scoring form he showed at SuperSport and help the KZN outfit stay away from this season’s relegation battle.

‘I’m very excited about this loan, I’ve always enjoyed playing at Harry Gwala since I arrived in South Africa – it’s a great stadium and the atmosphere can be absolutely electric,’ Brockie said.

‘I only worked with Coach Eric for a few months at SuperSport, and I was grateful to receive a phone call from him before I completed my loan, but it didn’t take much convincing because I just want to play football again!’

Speaking on his below-par spell at Sundowns, Brockie said: ‘It’s been so tough, I think that – when I signed for Sundowns – myself, the club and the fans all had a picture of what it was going to look like, and unfortunately it didn’t turn out as expected. This happens in football, but I’m very grateful to the president for allowing me to get some game time out on loan now,’ he added.

‘I always have a smile on my face through the good and tough times, but the smile is now bigger knowing that I’m going to be doing what I love, and that’s playing football. I hope to get back to myself, scoring goals and playing some good football, and I aim to help Maritzburg achieve their team goals by working hard, getting into the starting XI and then staying there.’