Orlando Pirates defender Olisa Ndah has been nominated for Nigeria’s top award video

Ndah trains at the Rand Stadium. Image: OrlandoPirates/X.

REVEALED | The two PSL clubs that snubbed Olisa Ndah before Orlando Pirates deal!

Orlando Pirates defender Olisa Ndah has become a mainstay for the club since arriving in the country, but it could all have been so different.

Orlando Pirates defender Olisa Ndah has been nominated for Nigeria’s top award video

Ndah trains at the Rand Stadium. Image: OrlandoPirates/X.

Orlando Pirates defender Olisa Ndah has become a mainstay for the club since arriving in the country, but it could all have been so different.

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Ndah has become synonymous with Pirates since signing for the club but he has revealed that before the Buccaneers, two other DStv Premiership clubs passed up on his signature. 

HE JOINED FROM AKWA UNITED

Ndah has been a revelation for Pirates since joining from Nigerian side Akwa United at the start of the previous DStv Premiership season. Before coming to South African shores, the Sea Robbers themselves were attracted to the player following his significant contribution to United’s title win in the Nigerian Professional Football League

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He seemed to seamlessly translate that form from his native to the local league and his fantastic performances for Pirates saw Ndah earn a surprise call up to the Nigerian national team, with coach Augustine Eguavoen taking the lanky centre back with him to the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon earlier this year. Speaking to Gagasi FM, his agent Mike Makaab admitted that he had some convincing to do in his efforts to try and land the lanky centre back a move to South Africa before chairman Irvin Khoza saw the vision. 

Two clubs rejected him

“He (Ndah) was offered to a few clubs in SA, I don’t want to mention names, but he was offered to a few clubs, and the only club that reacted in a serious and positive manner was Orlando Pirates, I told him, ‘Listen, you can never always be perfectly confident about any football player settling in the new environment. But if ever I thought this was a perfect fit for Orlando Pirates, it was Olisa Ndah. Not only that, he has a wonderful character. He is a winner.” Said Makaab.

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Now according to FARPost, Ndah had revealed the two local clubs who passed up on the opportunity to sign him.

Ndah reveals the two clubs

“Before I moved to Akwa United from Remo Stars,  talks were held between Remo Stars and Sundowns. But Sundowns were undecided on signing me, so it never materialised. I was also very close to joining Cape Town City, who were a new team at that time. However, they opted for more high-profile players since they wanted to win a trophy or get a Continental ticket,” Ndah said.

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Ndah also then adds clarity on how his move to Pirates transpired, saying that it was in fact the club that came to him and not the agent Makaab offering him to the Buccaneers.