New signing Andre de Jong eyes league glory in Orlando Pirates’ ‘exciting chapter’

Andre de Jong has wasted little time in outlining his goals at Orlando Pirates, determined to adapt swiftly and make a telling contribution as the club targets a long-awaited league crown.

The former Stellenbosch FC midfielder is one of three new arrivals at Pirates during the January transfer window, following the club’s recent acquisitions of Marumo Gallants duo Daniel Msendami and Mpho Chabatsane. The Soweto giants are continuing to strengthen their squad as they enter the business end of the season.

De Jong was an influential figure for Stellies, particularly as the Cape side looked to rediscover their best form, and his departure represents a notable loss for the club. However, his arrival is expected to be a significant boost for Pirates and head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou, especially given the midfielder’s versatility and ability to operate across multiple roles in the attacking half.

Currently setting the pace in the highly competitive Betway Premiership, the Buccaneers have been active once again in the transfer market and have not hidden their intention to go all the way this season. Having already secured the MTN8 and the Carling Knockout titles, De Jong believes his move places him in an ideal position to help the club achieve what has eluded them for the past 13 years.

“I am extremely excited to join Orlando Pirates. It’s always tough moving in January, but I am looking forward to getting some games under my belt, and I will try to contribute to the team going forward,” De Jong told the club’s media team.

“Playing for Stellenbosch, we have lost a couple of finals to Pirates in the past, so when they showed interest, I was very excited. It is a really exciting chapter for me because Pirates have shown so much success over the past few seasons, and hopefully I can continue that success.

"I came up a couple of weeks ago and went into training. It has been a tough few weeks with the mid-season break, but we have been working hard and getting a lot of fitness and conditioning under our belts.”

The Buccaneers last lifted the league title during the 2011/12 season. Despite coming close on several occasions — including last season — they have once again positioned themselves as genuine contenders at the summit of the table, holding a two-point lead over Mamelodi Sundowns.

De Jong joins Pirates having played every league game for Stellenbosch this season, arriving with momentum after contributing two goals and one assist. Those numbers will be encouraging for Ouaddou, who will be eager for the midfielder to hit the ground running as the club intensifies its pursuit of more silverware.

“It’s a goal of everyone in the club to win the league this season, and it’s a great opportunity sitting at the top of the log going into the break,” De Jong said.

“There is a lot of expectation from the fans to break the drought, and hopefully we can do that this season. Some of my goals are to contribute to the team as much as possible. I would like to win the league, score goals, and contribute in the final third by bringing good interplay and working hard.”

Pirates will resume their campaign with a demanding away fixture against third-placed Sekhukhune United, who claimed a 1–0 victory when the two sides met at Orlando Stadium earlier this season.