Keepers galore as Sandilands signs
HIS ARRIVAL BRINGS TOTAL TO FIVE
New Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Wayne Sandilands pledged to give his all for his team as he was unveiled as a Buccaneer yesterday afternoon.
The 33-year-old stopper signed a three-year deal at Pirates and said he was honoured to join the Soweto giants.
“To my new family … it is truly an honour to be a Pirates player. You have my all,” wrote the former Platinum Stars and Mamelodi Sundowns man on Twitter.
The addition of Sandilands to the Bucs arsenal brings the number of keepers at the Soweto team to five as they already have Brighton Mhlongo, Jackson Mabokgwane, Siyabonga Mpontshane and Emanuel Daniel.
The Buccaneers fans will hope Sandilands’ experience will put an end to the goalkeeping blunders which have hindered the team’s progress over the past two seasons since Senzo Meyiwa’s tragic death in 2014.
Although his ability and experience are unquestionable, his lack of game time at Sundowns – where he was the third choice after Denis Onyango and Kennedy Mweene – could be a concern.
Just last season, Pirates conceded 40 goals in the league alone, with 12 of those coming in two matches as the Buccaneers crashed 6-1 and 6-0 against SuperSport United and Sundowns respectively.
A goalkeeping crisis started as the season began, with Felipe Ovono gifting opponents easy goals before he was replaced by Mhlongo. Ovono was released from his contract in January.
Sandilands is Pirates’ second signing ahead of the new season with midfielder Thamsanqa Sangweni having joined two weeks ago. Pirates are, however, still expected to sign a defender, with Ajax Cape Town’s unsettled Rivaldo Coetzee said to be on their radar.
A massive clear-out is also expected next week when the Buccaneers unveil their season plans as coach Kjell Jonevret is said to be looking to trim the squad to a more manageable number.