By Michael Madyira
Deano van Rooyen, now signed by Orlando Pirates, has many happy memories of the eight seasons he spent at Stellenbosch FC.
The 27-year-old made the move to the Buccaneers on Monday, ending his long stay at Stellenbosch, where he had played all his professional football since coming through their development ranks.
Van Rooyen, who has never played for any other team, shared his thoughts on his time with Stellenbosch.
“Playing for Stellenbosch FC over the last eight years has been a dream come true,” he said.
“Growing up in Stellenbosch, there was no professional football club, so when the club was formed, it became my dream to play for them.”
Van Rooyen made his debut at 19 in 2016 and spent three seasons in the National First Division.
He was part of the team that earned a promotion to the PSL in 2019. After five seasons in the top league, he felt it was time for a change.
One of his proudest moments as captain of Stellenbosch was leading the team to victory in the Carling Knockout last season.
“Being the captain was a huge honour,” he said.
“The captain’s armband was a big responsibility, but I knew I could lead the team. Winning the Carling Knockout is a memory I’ll always cherish. It was especially meaningful to lift the trophy as a local player, and I’ll carry that with me forever. Stellenbosch will always be home.”
Now, Van Rooyen is focused on settling in at Pirates and securing regular playing time.
Pictured above: New Orlando Pirates signing Deano van Rooyen during his time at Stellenbosch.
Source: Stellenbosch
