Wayne Sandilands set to hang up his gloves, Orlando Pirates prepare a new role for him

Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Wayne Sandilands is set to retire from playing professional football at the end of this season according to the latest reports doing the rounds.

The veteran goal minder is believed to have finalised his decision to retire from his playing duties at the end of the current season, and will now reportedly take up a role as a goalkeeper coach at Pirates. Sandilands joined the Buccaneers from rivals Mamelodi Sundowns in 2017 and has become a key member of the team in recent years, after some time on the sidelines unfavoured.

Ofori’s arrival might have influenced Sandilands decision

The arrival of Ghana International number one ‘keeper Richard Ofori has inevitably resulted in Sandilands slipping down the Pirates goalkeeping pecking order and that, in itself may have played a big role in the player deciding that the time had come for him to retire from the game. The 37-year-old seems primed to at least reach the much-coveted milestone of a century of appearances for The Ghosts.

A club insider speaking to The Citizen reveals Sandilands’ situation at Pirates.

He has already been coaching the Pirates keepers

“At the moment what I know is that everything is set for him (Sandilands) and he is happy to go into the path of being a goalkeeper coach. I think this is something he has always wanted and he is doing it so perfectly because he has a lot of experience.

“Another thing is that he is very good with the guys and he is someone who is always giving players advice on where to improve their game. He is a good leader and we can only wish him success. He will be concentrating on doing a coaching course soon, I know that he was already looking into it,” he said.

Sandilands has already taken up the goalkeeper coaching role at the club unofficially this season, as has been reported, and he is now thought to be looking to do his coaching badges in order to properly transition into that role permanently.

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The club is said to have already been planning to make that transition as smooth as possible for the club, with the impending acquisition of former Black Leopards ‘keeper King Ndlovu thought to be part of that strategy.