sportskeeda
Defender Sandile Mthethwa has revealed that his reduced playing time at Orlando Pirates led him to conclude his contract with the club.
Mthethwa expressed that, at the age of 27, he should be actively involved in matches, as this period is generally considered the peak for footballers and athletes.
Recently, the 27-year-old parted ways with Pirates and quickly joined AmaZulu.
He signed with the team along with former Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Bongani Zungu.
Zungu had been a free agent since leaving Sundowns in June, while Mthethwa had not participated in any matches for Pirates this season, leading to his exit.
“I can never feel unhappy with a team that has shaped my career,” Mthethwa said when discussing his frustrations about limited chances at Pirates.
“It was simply a matter of recognizing that I have plenty to offer and wish to showcase my talents to the nation, as I still aim to represent my country.
“I felt that being benched and not playing equated to wasting my time in football, especially at 27, a time when I should be competing consistently.
“This is the stage where I should be a key player at the club. My previous club didn’t provide me that chance, so we had discussions and reached a mutual understanding; it wasn’t that Pirates ended my contract, but more of a shared decision.”
During his time at Pirates, Mthethwa also experienced loan spells at Richards Bay and Chippa United, making a total of 21 appearances for the Buccaneers and scoring two goals. His most memorable moment came when he netted the winning goal against Kaizer Chiefs in the 2022/23 Nedbank Cup semi-finals.
Philip Ndlondlo delivered an exquisite cross that Mthethwa skillfully headed into the net, outwitting Brandon Peterson.
Mthethwa, who is set to make his debut next month when the PSL registration reopens, shared that his fondest memory is winning that tournament after their victory over Sekhukhune United at Loftus Stadium.
“I believe my best moment with Pirates was clinching the Nedbank Cup,” he reminisced.
“While many may think that scoring against Kaizer Chiefs is my top memory, if we hadn’t won that cup, it wouldn’t mean as much.
“That was the first trophy I secured with Pirates, where I made a significant contribution. Although I previously won the MTN8, that cup holds a unique significance for me, and it’s something I’ll forever cherish from my time at Pirates, knowing I added value.
“However, it wasn’t solely my effort; every player played a crucial role in each match throughout that Nedbank Cup journey.
“I won’t deny that I contributed to achieving that trophy.”
Mthethwa earned three MTN8 titles and two Nedbank Cups during his time at Orlando Pirates, acknowledging that his influence varied in some of those victories.
