The PSL clubs that snubbed Olisa Ndah before Orlando Pirates move
Orlando Pirates star Olisa Ndah has revealed the two clubs that turned him down ahead of his move to the DStv Premiership.
Olisa Ndah’s agent Mike Makaab this week revealed that the steady defender was initially offered to other PSL clubs before his move to the DStv Premiership.
Makaab, who previously coached Pirates, revealed that the Buccaneers were the keenest South African club to snap up the Nigerian.
OLISA NDAH OFFERED TO PSL CLUBS
This was after the Super Eagles’ defender’s stellar season in the Nigerian Professional Football League, where he turned out for Akwa United.
The 24-year-old had been instrumental as Akwa clinched the 2020/21 Nigerian Professional Football League title, emerging as the best centre-back in the league.
“He was offered to a few clubs in SA, I don’t want to mention names, but he was offered to a few clubs, and the only club that reacted in a serious and positive manner was Orlando Pirates,” Makaab told Gagasi FM this week.
He further revealed a conversation between him and the Pirates’ chairman Irvin Khoza about the ball-playing defender Ndah. According to Makaab, Khoza asked how he felt about the player.
“I told him, ‘Listen, you can never always be perfectly confident about any football player settling in the new environment.
“But if ever I thought this was a perfect fit for Orlando Pirates, it was Olisa Ndah. Not only that, he has a wonderful character. He is a winner.”
MAMELODI SUNDOWNS UNDECIDED
True to his word, Ndah was quick to establish himself at Pirates, and his ingenuity earned him a place in the Nigeria national team that played at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.
With the Buccaneers, he was part of the team that lost in the Caf Confederation Cup final to Morocco’s Berkane on penalties.
Ndah has since disclosed to FARPost the two clubs that shut the door on his agent when he offered him to them.
“Before I moved to Akwa United from Remo Stars, talks were held between Remo Stars and Sundowns. But Sundowns were undecided on signing me, so it never materialised.
“I was also very close to joining Cape Town City, who were a new team at that time. However, they opted for more high-profile players since they wanted to win a trophy or get a Continental ticket,” Ndah told FARPost’s Diegwu Nwankor.
He further revealed that Pirates monitored him for a while before signing him.
“As for me signing for Pirates, my agent didn’t offer me to them. They came to me. Earlier that season, they monitored me and approached Akwa United, who told me there was an offer on the ground. The rest is history.”
This interview was conducted by Diegwu Nwankor, a Nigerian journalist based in Nnewi, Anambra State, south east of Nigeria.
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