New Zealand forward and former Stellenbosch FC star Andre de Jong has spoken for the first time since joining Orlando Pirates, taking time to outline his set goals for the Soweto giants.
The 29-year-old was announced as a new Pirates player last week, joining the Soweto giants from Stellenbosch FC. The move to Gauteng was finally concluded following the Buccaneers’ failed last-minute attempt to seal a deal during the previous transfer window.
Coach Abdeslam Ouaddou now has his man, who joins other attacking midfielders Sipho Mbule and Patrick Mswanganyi in the Buccaneers’ creative hub. De Jong has been playing in the Betway Premiership since 2019, when he joined AmaZulu FC from his native New Zealand, where he was turning out for Eastern Suburbs.
Familiarity with PSL football might give him an edge in settling down at Pirates, where he is reunited with Deano van Rooyen and Sihle Nduli, his former teammates at Stellenbosch.
He arrives at the Buccaneers at a time when they are leading the title race with two points clear at the table. Expectations are high for the Soweto giants to be crowned champions for the first time since 2012. It is also a season in which the Pirates have already clinched the MTN8 and Carling Knockout Cup, setting themselves up for a chance at a quadruple.
DE JONG REVEALS HIS PIRATES GOALS
“I think it’s a goal of everyone at the club to win the league this year, and it’s a great opportunity sitting on top of the log at the [2025 AFCON] break now. So, in these two weeks, we have really been pushing too hard,” said De Jong. “I think from the outside, there are a lot of expectations from the fans to break the [league] drought. So, hopefully, we can do it this season and really stamp our authority when we come back into the game.
“Some of my personal goals are obviously to contribute to the team as much as possible. I think obviously I would love to win the league, and I think everyone at the club would. So, that’s a big goal of mine. I would also want to score and contribute goals going forward, to bring a nice interplay in the final third and also to work really hard off the ball.
“Pirates have a really good pressing culture and defensive structure. So, just to give my all whenever I play and hopefully contribute to the team winning.”
The move to Pirates could also help him continue as a regular New Zealand international. The midfielder has been enjoying consistent national team call-ups when even after arriving in South Africa.
DE JONG’S SWITCH TO PIRATES DESCRIBED AS ‘TOUGH’
“I’m extremely excited to join Orlando Pirates. Obviously, it’s always tough moving in January, but I’m just really looking forward to getting some games under my belt and trying to contribute to the team going forward,” De Jong added.
“Playing for Stellenbosch, we lost a couple of finals to Pirates in the past. So I was very excited to be able to join Pirates; it’s an exciting chapter for me going forward.
“Pirates have shown so much success over the past few seasons, and hopefully I can continue with that success going forward. Obviously, it’s been a bit of a whirlwind. I came up a couple of weeks ago and went straight to training.
“Settling in Joburg is a bit different from my time in Stellenbosch and in Durban as well, so I’m looking forward to exploring the city. It’s been a tough few weeks with the mid-season break, so we have been working really hard and getting a lot of fitness and conditioning under our belts.
“It’s been a good two weeks, so I’m looking forward to the games coming up.”
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