Orlando Pirates managed to sign Deano Van Rooyen despite Stellies’ reluctance to release him. Find out how Van Rooyen made it happen.
DEANO VAN ROOYEN TOLD STELLENBOSCH TO RELEASE HIM
With Thabiso Lebitso and Bandile Shandu injured for the Sea Robbers, Orlando Pirates went for Van Rooyen to cover and compete with Thabiso Monyane at right-back.
The 27-year-old Van Rooyen left Stellies after 161 matches in the top flight.
“They wanted to keep me, but I told them, let me follow my dream, I wanted something new in my career,” van Rooyen told iDiski Times.
“I have been all the years at Stellenbosch, I was there for eight years, just for me to make a switch and have a different environment, it will show the person I am, my character of my personality.
“I was talking to my family and players at Stellenbosch about what is best for me, they told me to go after my dreams, and I sat with my family to discuss the move to Orlando Pirates, they said they would be happy for me if I went, it’s what I wanted.
“I wanted to follow my dreams, but it was a difficult decision. You know they say players don’t survive here in the Jo’burg environment, everything is fast here, the lifestyle, everything, so for me it’s to behave on and off the field.
“I know why I came here, for me, it’s now to stay focused and just do my job here at Orlando Pirates, I know everyone says players [from Cape Town] come to Pirates and struggle, but I just need to do the right things, listen to the coaches and what they say,” Van Rooyen concluded.
WHAT HAVE YOU MADE OF DEANO VAN ROOYEN AT ORLANDO PIRATES SO FAR?
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