Deano van Rooyen another gem of a signing for Pirates: Lucky Lekgwathi

Orlando Pirates have once again demonstrated their clear intentions to challenge for honours in the 2024-25 season, strengthening their right-hand side with Stellenbosch FC captain Deano van Rooyen. 

Van Rooyen, 27, joins Thalente Mbatha and Selaelo Rasebotja, both midfielders from SuperSport United and Angolan striker Gibele Gilberto, formerly of Petro Luanda, among the four key signings made by Bucs so far this season. 

Former Pirates captain Lucky Lekgwathi hailed Van Rooyen's acquisition, saying it will give Jose Riveiro's side much-needed options as he now has someone to give Thabitso Lebitso and Thabiso Monyane strong competition for the right-back position. Bandile Shandu, who has suffered a long-term injury, is another player Riveiro has often played at right-back.

“Pirates have five competitions to play in [the MTN8, Carling Knockout, Nedbank Cup, Betway Premiership and Caf Champions League], so they need good players for every position. Van Rooyen gives Pirates a variety of strength on the right, especially because he can play as a winger as well. It's an excellent signing once again for Pirates,” retired former Bafana Bafana defender Lekgwathi said. 

Lekgwathi, the last Pirates skipper to lead Pirates to a league title in May 2012, added that Van Rooyen's arrival will boost Bucs' chances of challenging Mamelodi Sundowns, who have won the league title in the last seven seasons. The Buccaneers have played second fiddle to the Brazilians, especially in the last two season where Riveiro's team won four domestic cup competitions but finished a distant second to Sundowns in the league (by 16 points in 2022-23 and 23 last campaign).

“There's no doubt about what Bucs fans are hungry for. The current Pirates reminds me of the teams that I won two successive trebles with [in 2010-2011 and 2011-2012]. Those teams were full of competition and the chair [Irvin Khoza] had made sure every season that each and every position is well catered for.

“Coach [Riveiro] cannot have excuses because the club has gone out to sign the players the club needed. These are well deserved signings [for players who have worked hard to earn them], and it's not just a matter of signing simply because you have the resources to do so,” added Lekgwathi, who won five major trophies, including two league titles, in 12 seasons with Pirates from 2002 to 2014.

Riveiro's team are already in the semifinals of the MTN8 after beating SuperSport in the last eight. Pirates may start fielding Van Rooyen as early as Sunday away to Madagascan club Disciples FC in the first leg of their Caf Champions League preliminary round tie. 

“With Van Rooyen, there's no time to acclimatise or anything. He may well find himself in the starting line-up as early as Sunday because the club has signed him for a purpose. It's the same for Gilberto the striker. Pirates needed a player like Gilberto to complement the strikers [Tshegofatsho Mabasa and Evidence Makgopa] they already have.

“I'm very excited when I look at this Pirates team because I see quality in every position — something a club like Pirates deserves and should have every season. I just hope key players don't get injured at the same time during the season. If we can avoid that I'm sure Pirates will have a season to remember,” Lekgwathi said.

I'm very excited when I look at this Pirates team because I see quality in every position — something a club like Pirates deserves and should have every season. I just hope key players don't get injured at the same time during the season. If we can avoid that I'm sure Pirates will have a season to remember.

—  Lucky Lekgwathi

What Pirates will get in Van Rooyen is different from what they had in Monyane and Lebitso. While both Lebitso and Monyane are good in defending, their final ball to strikers or crosses were at times not as good as that of Van Rooyen — a player who has been a pillar of strength in Steve Barker's Stellenbosch since they were promoted to the elite league in 2019. The right-back was a crucial performer again, and the captain, as Stellies enjoyed their best season in 2023-24, finishing third in the Premiership and winning the Carling Knockout.

The social media football statistics collator OptaJabu posted on X that Van Rooyen made the most tackles in the Premiership last season, with 57, and “was among the top five defenders for duels (fifth), possession won (fourth) and passes into the final third (fourth)”. 

Lekgwathi is correct in saying Van Rooyen will improve competition for the right-back position at Pirates. The only area where Riveiro's team may lack a player of Van Rooyen's quality is when Deon Hotto, who has overtaken Pirates captain Innocent Maela at left-back, is injured. The reason Riveiro mostly prefers Hotto at left-back is because of his final ball to the strikers, something the Namibian honed when he was playing as a left wing.

Lekgwathi agrees the wingbacks of today have far more tasks and responsibility than in his playing days, especially when it comes to the delivering of a quality final or second ball when the team attacks. Players like Real Madrid's Dani Carvajal and Denzel Dumfries of Inter Milan have shown in recent years how critical a flying right-back can be to the team's attack. Both these players score regularly if they're not providing a vital assists to their teammates while they still do their defending as diligently as they can.

Pirates may not have found a Carvajal or Dumfries in Van Rooyen but they certainly have a player who can to do some of things the Spanish and Dutch stars have demonstrated.