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Tyson finally realized his childhood dream of playing for one of the Soweto giants and admits that the Bucs weren’t the only ones after his signing.
Orlando Pirates defender Thulani Hlatshwayo has confirmed that there were “other teams” who wanted to sign him from Bidvest Wits before he completed his move to Mayfair.
However, the 30-year-old utility player did not want to reveal the names of those clubs out of respect, but said that the reasons he chose the Pirates are that it was always his dream to play for the club and that Houghton- The based side had been behind your signature for a long time.
According to media reports, Mamelodi Sundowns was also in the running to sign Hlatshwayo, while Kaizer Chiefs was also in the picture, although they are still awaiting the outcome of their transfer ban appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
“Honestly speaking, there were other teams that were behind my services, but out of respect for them I will not mention them and as I said before, I always wanted to play for the Orlando Pirates and secondly, the club has been behind for a long time.” Hlatshwayo told the Pirates website.
Additionally, Hlatshwayo said that while it’s every kid’s dream to play one of the big clubs in Soweto and Bafana Bafana, at the end of the day, it’s all about timing.
“Obviously growing up in Soweto, you always dream of playing for one of the great teams and playing for Bafana Bafana. The time was right. I felt like I was ready to make the move.”
Hlatshwayo also spoke about his favorite jersey number (number 3) that he has worn for over a decade at both Ajax Cape Town and Bidvest Wits.
However, you may have to settle for a new jersey number in Pirates, as jersey number 3 is occupied by Thembinkosi Lorch.
“The number 3 jersey has been with me for my entire career. I had the number 3 at Ajax Cape Town, where I had a successful season there, then I moved to Johannesburg to join Bidvest Wits. When I came to Wits, I was lucky. that number 3 was also available and therefore I assumed it. I have become fond of that number, I have a personal bond with it, “he continued.
“But now I’m joining a team where the number has an owner in Thembinkosi Lorch.”
Hlatshwayo said that he and Lorch used to joke about the possibility of taking over the number 3 jersey in the Pirates whenever they were at the Bafana Bafana camps, but he admits they haven’t talked about it since his arrival.
“Whenever we were in the camp with Bafana Bafana, we used to joke about that when I come (to Pirates) I will take away his number, but having said that, we haven’t had a chance to talk about it since I arrived, but i will also understand if you have a close connection with the number [and] I will look for an alternative, “Hlatshwayo added.
