Former Orlando Pirates winger Luvuyo Memela. Image: X
‘I grew up supporting Kaizer Chiefs but they were too late to sign me’ – ex-Pirates star
Former Orlando Pirates winger Luvuyo Memela has explained how the Buccaneers ‘hijacked’ his move to Kaizer Chiefs.
Former Orlando Pirates winger Luvuyo Memela. Image: X
Former Orlando Pirates winger Luvuyo Memela has revealed he grew up supporting Kaizer Chiefs and always wanted to play for the Soweto giants.
The 36-year-old is a late bloomer who only started playing top-flight football at 24 when he joined Chippa United.
Memela told FARPost that it was his dream to play for Kaizer Chiefs but Pirates come first.
“I grew up loving Chiefs, I was like wishing and hoping that they would contact me or my manager,” he said.
“So, I thought they would contact us but came Pirates first. I was very shocked and scared. I remember asking [my manager] if he was serious but he was even shocked himself.
“Zulu [the manager] said to me when Pirates wanted me, they did everything quickly because they didn’t want anybody [to overtake them],” Memela added.
The ex-Pirates winger revealed Kaizer Chiefs only called shortly after he signed for their rivals.
“After a day or two after signing, they were like, ‘don’t tell anybody, just tell your family’.
“I think that’s when my manager said he got a call from Chiefs saying they’re also interested in me. But I don’t know who phoned, but it was somebody from Chiefs asking about me.
Memela ‘supported Kaizer Chiefs’ but played for Pirates
“But he told them it’s too late, the boy has signed for another team. So, that was it,” Memela added.
In 2018, the former Pirates fan-favourite scored a brace for the Sea Robbers in a 3-1 win over rivals Kaizer Chiefs.
Under Milutin Sredojević, Memela was a regular for the Buccaneers often scoring decisive goals.
Between 2017 and 2019, the Chippa United winger scored 12 league goals in 34 appearances.
After leaving Pirates, Memela did not join Kaizer Chiefs but moved to AmaZulu where he enjoyed two successful seasons.
