Norodien says Ertugral will help him reach his full potential

Norodien says Ertugal will help him reach him reach his full potential as a player. Riyaad will be reunited with Ertugral after moving from Ajax Cape Town to Pirates, having been given his first team chance by the Turk while with the urban Warriors.

A legal dispute meant that Norodien did not play until the tail-end of the 2014/15 season, but he appreciates the faith that Ertugral showed in him back then as they link up again.

“It’s a great feeling, I mean this is man who gave us our big break as it were when he promoted [Abbubaker Mobara] and I into the Ajax senior team in the 2013/2014 season,” Norodien told his club’s website.

“I know he will ask a lot from his players because he wants to achieve more and he never wants mediocrity. For me personally, I feel I haven’t reached my full potential yet and having a coach like the one we have, who demands the best from his players, is the stage I need to prove that I am Pirates material.”

Norodien says he has fulfilled an ambition in playing for one of the Gauteng ‘Big Three’ that also includes Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns.

“For me to be finally here is a dream come true because I always wanted to move to Johannesburg,” he said. “I am coming here with an open heart to be part of the ambition and winning mind set of Pirates which is to want to win trophies and I feel at 21 years old I can only grow stronger, wiser and better here.

“I am actually impressed by the depth and quality of players we have because I know they will bring out the best in me, so yeah I’m looking forward to playing alongside the likes of [Oupa] Manyisa, [Happy] Jele and [Thabo] Rakhale, just to name a few.”

He does admit though that even he was taken by surprise by the move.

“I was obviously excited and shocked at the same time but when I managed to calm down I was just happy at the prospect of being a Buccaneer.

“I speak a lot with Mobara and when I heard the club was interested in us I called him and I told him, ‘my friend, I’m going to Pirates and his reply was, ‘Bra, I am going there too’’, so it was a special moment because we were both just over the moon at realising our dreams and having started so young at Ajax and now to be making the big move to the same big club just made it so special.”