BackpageAndre De Jong: Why the midfielder's move from Stellenbosch to Orlando Pirates fell through
BackpageWhat impressed Pirates?
Since joining Stelelnbosch, the New Zealand player has been an integral part of coach Steve Barker's setup.
He has played 103 games for Stellies following his move to the club in the 2022/23 season, with a return of 16 goals and 11 assists.
BackpageWhy Pirates needed De Jong in their team
Pirates have been lacking consistency in the traditional number 10 role in recent matches.
Patrick Maswanganyi has been inconsistent, with injuries exacerbating the situation, while Relebohile Mofokeng has also been used in that position but remains more effective when playing wide.
De Jong could have added needed depth in that department, explaining why Pirates wanted him.
Stellenbosch FCHow the move fell through!
It has now been revealed why the Soweto giants failed to have their man, as confirmed by Stellies CEO Rob Benadie.
"The clubs just couldn’t reach an agreement," he said as quoted by iDiski Times.
BackpageOuaddou has to work with players at his disposal
Despite failing to get the midfielder, coach Abdeslam Ouaddou signed 13 players for the new campaign. Kamogelo Sebelebele and Sipho Mbule can also step up when needed.
It is up to the technical team to develop a working system that ensures their team delivers consistently.
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