He described the past few months as the toughest - yet most defining - period of his young career.
The 23-year-old has now been cleared to play after Cape Town Spurs withdrew their appeal to SAFA, ending a drawn-out dispute over his contract status. Bern joined AmaZulu during the recent off-season, but the legal wrangle meant he could only train while his future remained in limbo.
Spurs argued that Bern was still under contract and that a transfer fee was required, even though the club had been relegated from the Motsepe Foundation Championship to the ABC Motsepe Regional League.
However, NSL rules classify the ABC Motsepe League as amateur, allowing players from relegated sides to become free agents. That interpretation was upheld by the PSL Dispute Resolution Chamber (DRC), and Spurs ultimately dropped their appeal to SAFA's Appeals Board this week.
For Bern, the moment brought both relief and reflection.
"It was incredibly frustrating at times. I kept telling myself to stay patient and keep working. I knew my moment would come," said Bern as quoted by Sportswire.
Through it all, Bern leaned heavily on the support of mentor George Dearnaley - a former AmaZulu striker, with the Usuthu legend's history with the club being an inspiration for Bern, which is why he was keen on joining the club.
"George kept me calm. He reminded me of the bigger picture. I honestly wouldn't be here without him," he added.
"Playing for AmaZulu is something I've wanted for a long time. To finally be here, after everything, makes it even more special."
Now fully registered, Bern is expected to feature when Usuthu host Siwelele at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday.
