Orlando Pirates defender Thulani Hlatshwayo says he has been on the club’s radar since his days at Ajax Cape Town.
The Bafana Bafana skipper made the move to the Soweto giants during the offseason, following the sale of Bidvest Wits, where he had spent over six years.
Thulani Hlatshwayo details long road to Orlando Pirates
While captaining the Clever Boys – leading them to a maiden league title in 2017 – he has been heavily linked with the Buccaneers.
Speaking to Pirates TV, the 30-year-old revealed that he was first approached by his new club in 2014.
“My journey to Pirates started a while ago. Coming from Ajax Cape Town, I was supposed to be signing for Pirates in 2014,” Hlatshwayo explained.
“But because I left Soweto at a young age, I felt coming back I needed to settle first and that’s why I chose to go to Bidvest Wits.
“From then onwards, with us winning trophies – the league, MTN 8, Telkom – Pirates kept on knocking on our door but at the time I had a contract with Wits and I was happy in the team, they had taken care of me so I kept on renewing contracts and everything.
“This time I felt it inside me that it was the right time to move to Orlando Pirates. Besides feeling like it was time, it’s a team I grew up supporting and I’ve made it public that I grew up supporting the club and that I would love to play in a Soweto Derby one day.”
Thulani Hlatshwayo
Hlatshwayo has made five appearances for Orlando Pirates, donning the armband on his competitive debut.
With him at the centre of the defence, the Buccaneers have only conceded twice across competitions.
He stands a chance to lift his first piece of silverware at his new club when they contest the MTN 8 final against Bloemfontein Celtic in December.
