Orlando Pirates right-back Deano van Rooyen believes the experience the Buccaneers gained from participating in the CAF Champions League this past season will come in handy for the national team in their two upcoming friendlies against Tanzania and Mozambique.
“We had a good season as Orlando Pirates and we gained a lot of experience in the CAF Champions League, so now it is for us to help the country, using that experience,” Van Rooyen said.
Bafana welcome Tanzania to Peter Mokaba Stadium for the first friendly on Friday, before hosting Mozambique at the same venue on Tuesday. Both games kick off at 7.30pm. Van Rooyen, who’s part of the national team for the first time, is expected to make his debut.
He had a decent campaign with Pirates, helping them finish second in the league and also reaching the Champions League semifinals, where they were knocked out by eventual champions Pyramids of Egypt. Van Rooyen is grateful he’s finally received a Bafana call-up.
“It’s an honour and a privilege to get selected for the Bafana Bafana squad. I’ve been working very hard because you’ll never know when your chance will come ... it’s the time now, so I just need to be myself and give my best in these two upcoming games,” he said.
Van Rooyen, 28, isn’t the only Pirates player who’s in the squad for the first team; his teammates Mbekezeli Mbokazi, Mohau Nkota and Simphiwe Selepe are all looking forward to making their national team debuts after receiving maiden call-ups, taking the number of Pirates’ representatives in the team to eight.
Bucs’ four seasoned campaigners in Sipho Chaine, Relebohile Mofokeng, Patrick Maswanganyi and Nkosinathi Sibisi are also in the team, with Sibisi set to skipper the side.
Van Rooyen, the former Stellenbosch skipper, who only joined Pirates in August, hopes that having a few of his Bucs teammates in the squad will help him and them to adapt quickly and “settle in easily with the national team”.
SowetanLIVE
Van Rooyen to draw from Bucs' CAF well for Bafana
Defender honoured to represent SA in friendlies against Tanzania, Mozambique
Image: Brian Rikhotso/BackpagePix
Orlando Pirates right-back Deano van Rooyen believes the experience the Buccaneers gained from participating in the CAF Champions League this past season will come in handy for the national team in their two upcoming friendlies against Tanzania and Mozambique.
“We had a good season as Orlando Pirates and we gained a lot of experience in the CAF Champions League, so now it is for us to help the country, using that experience,” Van Rooyen said.
Bafana welcome Tanzania to Peter Mokaba Stadium for the first friendly on Friday, before hosting Mozambique at the same venue on Tuesday. Both games kick off at 7.30pm. Van Rooyen, who’s part of the national team for the first time, is expected to make his debut.
He had a decent campaign with Pirates, helping them finish second in the league and also reaching the Champions League semifinals, where they were knocked out by eventual champions Pyramids of Egypt. Van Rooyen is grateful he’s finally received a Bafana call-up.
“It’s an honour and a privilege to get selected for the Bafana Bafana squad. I’ve been working very hard because you’ll never know when your chance will come ... it’s the time now, so I just need to be myself and give my best in these two upcoming games,” he said.
Van Rooyen, 28, isn’t the only Pirates player who’s in the squad for the first team; his teammates Mbekezeli Mbokazi, Mohau Nkota and Simphiwe Selepe are all looking forward to making their national team debuts after receiving maiden call-ups, taking the number of Pirates’ representatives in the team to eight.
Bucs’ four seasoned campaigners in Sipho Chaine, Relebohile Mofokeng, Patrick Maswanganyi and Nkosinathi Sibisi are also in the team, with Sibisi set to skipper the side.
Van Rooyen, the former Stellenbosch skipper, who only joined Pirates in August, hopes that having a few of his Bucs teammates in the squad will help him and them to adapt quickly and “settle in easily with the national team”.
SowetanLIVE
Orbit frustrated by delays in kickoff promotion playoffs
Banyana's morale boosted ahead of Wafcon after winning all preparatory matches
Jordaan confirms he won't say no to fourth term
VAR is coming: Gayton McKenzie tells parliament how department will pay
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending
Latest Videos