Soweto Giants Orlando Pirates signed midfielder Siphelo Baloni from Cape Town All Stars in July 2023 as coach Jose Riveiro continued strengthening his team.
The talented 25-year-old anticipated being part of the Sea Robbers Senior team squad, but he ended up being sent to Chippa United for a season-long loan deal.
Baloni has now opened up about how he came to learn later that Mamelodi Sundowns were also monitoring him.
He has stated he might have made a different decision if he had known about the interest from the Premier Soccer League's defending champions.
‘I could have told Pirates to wait' – Baloni
“I remember there was this other day I had a meeting with coach Themba [Sinethemba Badela who is currently Wydad Athletic Club assistant coach], he told me that Sundowns has been looking for me, but ‘I didn’t want to tell you',” Baloni told iDiski Times.
“I told him that I think he should have told me because now I’ve already signed at Pirates. If he told me, I was going to say that Pirates should wait until the season ends so I should decide if I am taking this one or not.
“But I also thought about it, Pirates is a big team and I’m young, I’m from the NFD. It is something else for me. It is a big achievement and also if I go there, it is fine I am going to face some challenges.”
At the Chilli Boys, Baloni has stamped his authority and has so far played eight games across all competitions. He has a goal and an assist to his name. Last season, he played just 13 games for Bucs across all competitions.
