Former Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Hendrick Ekstein has thanked the club and its supporters after he completed a move to Azerbaijan side Sabah FC.

The diminutive midfielder left the club under controversial circumstances in April after failing to agree upon new terms for his renewal.

Despite months of negotiations, Chiefs’ refusal to raise the midfielder’s wages eventually ended in him having the remaining two months of his contract terminated, leaving him free to find a new club.

Ekstein has gone on to sign for Sabah FC in the Azerbaijan premier division and has not let his controversial exit from Naturena sour his love for the club and its fans.

‘Whatever that happened, it happened because God maybe wanted me to leave, so that I can come [to] this side,’ Pule told KickOff.com in an interview.

‘But what I want to say to the supporters is that I will always love them, like they always love me. Some have sent me messages to check whether I’m OK, and I’ve told them, ‘Ja, I’m okay.’

‘But overall, I’d like to say good luck to the team and to all the supporters. I will forever be a Khosi For Life, because I am what I am because of the club.

🔵⚪️ pic.twitter.com/iTvFrW3cVf

— Pule Ekstein (@PuleEkstein) June 28, 2019

‘I actually went to see the chairman, but he was not there. But those I met, I had to say goodbye and stuff, and I told them that I’m leaving [for Azerbaijan],’ he said on his meeting at Naturena a couple of weeks ago.

‘My message to the chairman is that I would like to thank him and everyone working at Kaizer Chiefs, because I am what I am because of them.

‘They took me from the mines, and they gave me the opportunity to play for a big club like Kaizer Chiefs. It’s not everyone who plays for Chiefs, but it’s everyone who wants to play for Chiefs. So, I’d like to thank everyone who gave me that chance.’