WAYNE Sandilands is back from the goalkeeping dead after months of watching Kennedy Mweene make the Mamelodi Sundowns No1 jersey his own.

Sandilands used to be the Brazilians' man in goal until the Zambian international was signed at the start of the season to be the first choice .

Mweene arrived as one of the numerous recruits brought in by coach Pitso Mosimane, leading to questions regarding Sandilands' future and his place in the Bafana Bafana team, which he eventually lost.

A move to Ajax Cape Town was mooted before the early season transfer window was shut on August 30, and the goalie said he had to reset and think long-term.

"It's every player's dream to get the minutes and play regularly. But it's football and I guess patience does pay off," said Sandilands, who has now been picked ahead of Mweene in four back-to-back matches.

"There were talks about me going to another club but it's always been about the bigger picture and about the club."

Sandilands was the first victim of the Brazilians' sizeable squad, but Mosimane has always known he would need to work hard to convince the former Platinum Stars keeper to play second fiddle after being first for two seasons.

Sandilands accepted his fate but told his agent, Glynn Binkin, to consider looking for a new club for him during the January transfer window if his situation did not improve. Then Mweene suffered a mild injury playing for Zambia in an international friendly against Uganda earlier this month.

Doctors confirmed Mweene would only miss one match - the Brazilians' 2-0 win against AmaZulu two weeks ago. But Mosimane found no reason to drop Sandilands.

"I am at peace. I was happy to support Kennedy when he was in goal and he is supportive of me now because we understand that the club is bigger than all of us," said Sandilands who was in goal when Sundowns beat Lamontville Golden Arrows 4-1 in Durban on Saturday.