MAME Niang's appearance in the stands at Orlando Stadium on Tuesday night had the rumour mill in overdrive as speculation over a possible move to Orlando Pirates next season immediately began to filter through the stands.

But the club's administrative manager, Floyd Mbele, told the Sowetan immediately after his team's 1-0 win over Maritzburg United the assumption he would be in Buccaneers' colours next season was erroneous. "I don't know why he was here and we definitely have not signed him."

Asked minutes later at the post-match press conference whether Niang had been signed on a pre-contract by Pirates, coach Vladimir Vermezovic looked startled at first and then asked the reporter to repeat the name. He seemed to know Niang but then answered the question with a "no comment".

Asked whether Niang might be there because he was perhaps going to Maritzburg United, their coach Steve Komphela mischievously smiled and quipped: "You never know".

Niang's presence was made even more interesting by the fact that his own club, SuperSport United, were playing at the same time in the Mother City, where they lost 2-0 to Ajax Cape Town.

The giant Senegalese striker has been on the periphery at Matsatsantsa this season, his role as a target man not being used by their coach Cavin Johnson.