Orlando Pirates defender Deano van Rooyen says he asked Stellenbosch to allow him to follow his dreams as they tried to convince him to rebuff interest from the Soweto giants.
Van Rooyen secured his dream move to Pirates before the transfer window shut, ending speculation around his future after being touted for a move to Gauteng in recent years.
Stellies aimed to retain him for at least until January as they were pressed for time to secure a replacement for their club captain who developed into one of the most consistent right-backs in the Premier Soccer League.
“They wanted to keep me, but I told them, let me follow my dream, I wanted something new in my career,” van Rooyen said when asked by iDiski Times about his desire to join Pirates.
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“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.”
From a pacey winger to a reliable wing-back, van Rooyen’s career flourished since helping them win promotion to the top flight in the first season of existence in nearly eight years ago.
And he’s now ready to win add more silverware to his CV, as he led Steve Barker’s side to the Carling Knockout title last season.
“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,” he concluded.
