Maritzburg United coach Steve Komphela has revealed the club is making frantic efforts to retain the services of Ghana defender John Paintsil.
The experienced right-back has been offered a two-year extension to his expiring contract at the club.
Paintsil has been an instant hit since joining the club from lower tier Santos at the start of the South African Premier Soccer League season.
He started 27 league games for the Team of Choice as they went on to keep nine clean sheets to finish eighth.
Paintsil is still pondering over the offered deal but Maritzburg coach Steve Komphela says the club is very much interested in keeping the former Fulham defender.
“There is movement within the office [to keep Paintsil] and they are certain of things are pulling together," Komphela told KickOff.com.
"And truly so, John Paintsil has given us a great season. We hope that some of the discussion we have with management will be along the lines that whatever decision is taken will be in the best interest of the club and John himself."
Paintsil has been revived since moving to South Africa when his career looked to have ended.
The Ghanaian played for West Ham and Leicester City before ending his close to a decade stay in England.