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Gordinho adapts to new environment at Wits

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Lorenzo Gordinho 25, a  South African professional footballer who plays as a defender for South Africa national team, number 26, also a new player for Bidvest Wits  is seen training at  the clubs training ground in Strurrock Park,  Johannesburg. Picture; Cebile Ntuli
Lorenzo Gordinho 25, a South African professional footballer who plays as a defender for South Africa national team, number 26, also a new player for Bidvest Wits is seen training at the clubs training ground in Strurrock Park, Johannesburg. Picture; Cebile Ntuli

It’s been nearly two weeks since Lorenzo Gordinho left Kaizer Chiefs for Bidvest Wits.

Adaptation has been the buzzword for the 25-year-old defender, especially as his move ended his decade-long stay at Amakhosi.

Gordinho joked that he had even adjusted to the new route to training as he’s made Kaizer Chiefs Village in Naturena, southern Johannesburg, his home over the past decade.

“No, I don’t get lost on the way to training,” he said in jest as he broke the ice before our interview at the Wits training facility at Sturrock Park in Braamfontein.

“This game changes quickly. I mean, within a week, the decision was made that I was coming here. The decision to lend me [to Bloemfontein Celtic last season] was made in four hours that time. So you just have to keep on adapting. There’s no time to sit back and relax because, if you’re not adapting, you’ll miss out,” said the player from Benoni in Ekurhuleni.

Gordinho had just concluded a morning training session with his new Wits team-mates and appeared to be at ease in his new home.

“I love to win as a player. For me to leave Chiefs, I had to go to a team that is competing [for silverware].

“I think it was a good choice and was the right time to join – the club is doing well,” explained Gordinho, who is yet to debut for the title-chasing Clever Boys.

“I can help keep the momentum right until the end of the season. The league race will go down to the wire [this year].”

Wits, who face AC Horoya in Guinea-Bissau in their CAF Confederation Cup group phase fixture this afternoon, are still in contention for the Absa Premiership title, provided they utilise their catch-up games in a profitable way.

As for Gordinho, he faces stiff competition for a place in Wits’ starting line-up. The team’s defence is made up of the Bafana Bafana trio of Thulani Hlatshwayo, Buhle Mkhwanazi and Sifiso Hlanti.

“It’s good competition and it will push me a lot. When the coach feels it’s my time, I’ll be ready,” vowed Gordinho, who last played a competitive game in November, when he came on as a late substitute for Chiefs against Chippa United. He only played eight minutes in the game Amakhosi won 2-0 in Port Elizabeth.

Because of limited game time, some feared that Gordinho would end up not realising his full potential, despite being rated as one of the most technically gifted players in the country.

Gordinho said that he was never really given a fair chance in central defence at Chiefs, and found his deployment at either left or right full back, and at times in midfield, a difficult task to fulfil with aplomb.

“I feel most comfortable at centre back. I just think that’s where I made my name and that’s [the position] where Chiefs first found me playing,” explained the son of former Orlando Pirates and Benoni United defender Manny Faria, who is a legend in his own right.

Gordinho dismissed the possibility that he was weighed down by the expectation that he’d emulate his father.

“Sometimes when your father played the game, some people put pressure on you, but that’s not the case. Instead, he’s helped me a lot throughout my career and he has enjoyed watching me,” he said.

Reflecting on his last days at Chiefs, Gordinho said it was clear that he was not part of coach Ernst Middendorp’s plans for the team, and he needed to make a decision about his career.

This, despite him returning refreshed after a loan spell at Bloemfontein Celtic during the second half of the 2017/18 season, where he played every minute for Phunya Sele Sele in 30 games across all competitions. He only sat out two games due to the fact that he had been red-carded.

“[It’s] nothing personal, but coach Middendorp had his plans. And I understand that all of us can’t play at the same time. Sometimes you have to be patient, but also make a decision to move when the right time comes.

“Wits have been interested in me for a while now. So when the opportunity came for me to leave, I was interested.”

When asked whether he’d previously imagined leaving Chiefs, Gordinho said: “To be honest, it was hard to predict. But it’s hard for a player to stay at one club for his whole career, especially these days as players move around a lot.

“When I was a youngster, I thought I’d be at Chiefs forever. But when I left for Bloemfontein, it was a reality check. I am grateful to Chiefs for giving me the experience that made me grow as a player,” Gordinho said.


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