SuperSport United winger Aubrey Ngoma feels his big move to Orlando Pirates came early in his career.
The talented winger found himself tussling for a place in the Pirates’ attack with some experienced names, including Daine Klate, Mark Mayambela, Tlou Segolela and Sifiso Myeni.
In that nightmarish stint in 2012, the 32-year-old feels he never got an opportunity to prove himself after Eric Tinkler came on board following the sacking of Roger De Sa.
“What happened to me at Orlando Pirates was unfair as nothing was explained to me why I’m not playing. I would have tried to improve to get back on the team, but I stayed professional,” Ngoma told Marawa Sports Worldwide.
“The new coach came in with a new philosophy, and things changed. I got sidelined and never understood why.”
The winger, who joined Bucs at 22, says he knew it would always be difficult as he was competing with experienced players.
“I was young when I went to Orlando Pirates. I was competing with well-established players. It was difficult, but I learned a lot from the players around me and got some sessions with Benni McCarthy,” he said.
“The coach, [Roger De Sa] believed in me. He gave me minutes on the field. All was going well until he was sacked.”
After struggling for game time, he was loaned out to Mpumalanga Black Aces to revive his form and be on the pitch.
Interestingly, his former Tuks coach Steve Barker had predicted that breaking into the Bucs’ team would not be easy.
“I think it will be tough for him to break into that Pirates team, he’s a young player, and he’ll need to play regularly, but given the opportunity, he could do well for them,” Barker said back in 2012.
Ngoma has made four appearances for Matsantsantsa and will be looking to make the best of his stay in Tshwane.
