Ndlovu reveals how failed Orlando Pirates move led to Mamelodi Sundowns switch

Mamelodi Sundowns winger Siyanda Ndlovu has revealed that he travelled to Johannesburg expecting to join Orlando Pirates, only to complete a surprise move to the Brazilians after the transfer stalled for several days.

The 23-year-old appeared set to sign for Pirates before the proposed move collapsed at the eleventh hour. Instead, his former club Golden Arrows instructed him to report to Sundowns, where he eventually completed his switch ahead of the new season.

Ndlovu said the change of destination was unexpected but insisted he had no regrets about joining the Tshwane club. His long-term ambition, he explained, had always been to represent one of South Africa’s “big three” clubs.

“I came to join Pirates, how it changed? I don’t know but I found myself at Sundowns,” Ndlovu told Victor Molefe on Ukhozi FM, as translated from Zulu.

The winger said he had no clear explanation for why the move to Pirates failed to materialise.

“I won’t tell you but what happened is my boss at Golden Arrows told me that we’re going to sign with Sundowns now. But I don’t know what happened.

“I came here Wednesday and the time went on until Monday with things uncertain, and then I ended up at Sundowns.

“I didn’t have a problem with what happened because I wanted to play for one of the big three clubs.”

Ndlovu’s transfer has quickly taken on greater significance because of the strong start he has made at Sundowns. He has impressed since arriving at the club and attracted attention with his performances in the six matches he has played across all competitions.

His move came after a period of uncertainty in Johannesburg, where he had initially been waiting for the Pirates deal to be completed. The 23-year-old was ultimately redirected to Sundowns by Golden Arrows, producing one of the more unexpected transfer developments ahead of the campaign.

Rather than allowing the failed Pirates move to affect him, Ndlovu has embraced the opportunity at one of the country’s leading clubs. His comments suggest that joining Sundowns still fulfilled his broader objective of playing for one of South Africa’s biggest teams, even though it was not the destination he had expected when he arrived in Johannesburg.

The iDiski Times Digital Newspaper is completely free. Readers can download it or fill in the form to have it sent to them every week.