Muhsin Ertugral has admitted that stepping down as boss of Ajax Cape Town was not an easy decision for him.

The Turkish-born mentor resigned on Thursday to pursue a career back in his homeland with Turkish League runners-up Sivasspor, where he has been offered the coaching job.

"One thing I can tell you, is that I leave this club (Ajax) with a heavy heart. I have grown fond of these boys and I have grown to love the country as well," he told SuperSport.com.

"I have been living in South Africa for close on ten years.

"I consider South Africa as my home, I have property in this country and there is no other country where I am at such ease and at home like in South Africa."

The former Kaizer Chiefs boss, who was serving his second tenure at the Ikamva outfit said that the offer he had received from Sivasspor was too good to refuse.

He continued: "However, having said that, and much as my heart is heavy, I received an offer that was simply too good to turn down. I accepted the offer and at 50 years of age, such offers do not come every day. But I can assure you that I will be back.

"I am going to take up a very challenging job, said Ertugral.

"But in life you never know what will happen tomorrow and my heart bleeds for all the youngsters at Ajax that I am leaving behind.

"We have done so much together and we aimed to achieve a lot together. I wish them everything of the best."

Football365.co.za