Orlando Pirates are in talks to reward hard working attacking midfielder Terrence Dzukamanja with a longer contract after a stellar performance that turned the boos from the Ghost fans to cheers.
Dzukamanja had a sterling second half of the season, including scoring the stunning winner that saw Orlando Pirates lift the Nedbank Cup. It was a remarkable turnaround for a player who had been at the receiving end of some hostile heckles from some sections of the Bucs fans earlier in the season.
The 29-year-old refused to let the noise from the terraces dampen his spirits as he let his feet and head do the talking in front of goal with some fine finishes that won over the fans.
The match winning heroics of the Zimbabwean did not only silence his critics but also earned him a well-deserved seat in the negotiation table for a longer deal with the Pirates hierarchy. Terrence Dzukamanja’s agent Mike Makaab confirmed that talks to extend the Nedbank herostay at Pirates were progressing well.
One more season left at Orlando Pirates
“He has one more season left at Pirates via an option and at the moment we’re speaking to the club and with Terrence of a possibility to a longer-term contract,” Makaab confirmed to iDiski Times.
The big attacker entered negotiations with a strong hand after he finished the season with eight goals and 19 assists.
“So we are in discussions as we talk, Terrence will remain at Orlando Pirates for the new season. It was a very tough spell for Terrence [in the beginning] but his professionalism and commitment to the club when he got a chance, was nothing short of remarkable.”
Makaab was full of praise for the strong character his player showed when the Ghost’s boo boys made Terrence Dzukamanja’s life on the pitch a living hell.
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“He showed incredible professionalism and determination, I have no doubt in my mind the supporters at Orlando Pirates have seen what his capabilities are and I hope those who made his life difficult, feel pretty awful now,” Makaab added.
Makaab pleaded with fans to desist from further demoralising players that are going through a bad patch.
“As a former Pirates coach, and it’s not only at Pirates, it’s at our big clubs in the country, when players go through a slump, instead of them embracing the player and lifting him, they tend to get on that players back and I find that totally unacceptable, the club does too but that’s in the past,” he said