Siphiwe Tshabalala is not overly concerned about having sat out of Bafana's last two matches, insisting the team's success comes before his own happiness.
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Tshabalala had an ineffective showing against Cape Verde in the opening match of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations and was subsequently dropped from the next two Group A matches.
Bafana went on to convincingly beat Angola 2-0 and then came from behind to draw 2-2 with Morocco and earn a place in the quarter-finals, all without the Kaizer Chiefs' man.
In both games the players showed a hunger and determination which was missing from the Cape Verde clash as well as friendly matches prior to the tournament.
Shabba, as the dread-locked player is known, says he is backing his team-mates to achieve success and is not sulking about being benched.
"It is not about me, but the team winning the tournament and uniting the nation through sport. Obviously if I get a chance again I will be grateful and will take it. I will do my best to help the team achieve its objectives," said Tshabalala.
"There are no hard feelings between the players who play and those who don't. We get along very well and complement each other. That is what has made us tick.
"We do so many things together on and off the field and we are like a family. Everyone is determined and showing hunger, which shows how bad we want this tournament, not for us as players but for the nation."
Bafana take on Mali in a quarter-final clash on Saturday and coach Gordon Igesund is expected to stick to his winning formula, meaning Shabba will once again start from the bench.
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