Deano Van Rooyen has opened up about how the move to Orlando Pirates came about, ending an eight-year stay at hometown club Stellenbosch FC.
Orlando Pirates announced the signing of Van Rooyen from Stellenbosch FC in mid-August.
The right-back joined on a three-year deal with the option to extend for an additional two years, according to a club statement released by the Soweto giants.
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The move came on the back of a standout season where van Rooyen made 35 appearances across all competitions, missing just six matches overall in 2023/24.
Since his arrival, he slotted straight into the Pirates line-up and almost immediately won over the Ghost with his work ethic and darting runs down the right flank.
He has now explained how he came to join the club.
"My agent told me that Pirates was interested in me, he told me in January," Van Rooyen revealed in the latest episode of Bucs Change Room.
"Then I just started focusing on finishing my six months with Stellenbosch. After that, then we can decide what will happen with me.
"I started pre-season with Stellenbosch, but that thing with Orlando Pirates was always on my mind.
"I told the club that this is my dream team and I would like to join Orlando Pirates because when I was growing up, I supported Orlando Pirates.
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"My first game for Orlando Pirates was in Botswana against Jwaneng Galaxy [in the CAF Champions League preliminary rounds]. There was a lot of Pirates supporters, I was a bit shocked because I thought since we are playing away, there would be more Jwaneng fans than Pirates," he continued.
Van Rooyen and Co. have CAF Champions League group stage duty up next, doing battle against Algerian outfit CR Belouizdad on Tuesday, 26 November.