Mame Niang: Sundowns Hijacked My Move To Pirates  

Former Mamelodi Sundowns striker Mame Niang says the Tshwane giant was not interested in signing him but they signed him just because Orlando Pirates wanted to sign him. 

The Buccaneers showed an interest in signing the Senegalese talisman at the end of the 2013/14 season from SuperSport United. Unfortunately, the Brazilians heard that and then hijacked the Buccaneers. 

Sundowns finalised Niang’s deal while he was not even in South Africa, as he was in Norway. 

“Mamelodi Sundowns didn’t want to sign me, from the first place it was Orlando Pirates that showed an interest,” Niang told Sportswire.

“Roger De Sá, who was the coach of Pirates, came to me when we were playing against the University of Pretoria. Many teams wanted to sign me because I was the second top scorer in the league, and Katlego Mashego (of Moroka Swallows) was leading. 

“De Sá came to me and said ‘Mame, you are my first signing next season, I’m signing you.’ That time it was the period when Sundowns was to start dominating the PSL, and Pirates wanted to join that dominance that’s why they wanted to sign me. 

“So, when Sundowns heard that Pirates want to sign me they just jumped into the occasion. I was about to travel to Norway but Tebogo Moloi called me and said Khoza wanted to talk with me. I said I couldn’t because I’m traveling now and I can’t talk to anybody because I will miss my flight, but I will talk to you when I come back. 

“Sundowns sealed the deal while I was in Norway. Pitso (Mosimane) said to me ‘We heard that Pirates want you but we want you more.’ When Sundowns want you they get you because they double what Pirates was offering you.”

He continued. “That time I was reaching my 30s and I said I’m going for the money because Sundowns offered double what Pirates was offering me. My agent said to me I might not get game time at Sundowns but I told him that there’s no problem, I’m going for the money. 

“I also wanted to win trophies, especially the league. I only had the Nedbank Cup under my name and it was enough for me and joining Sundowns was going to help me win more. So, this is how I ended up at Sundowns.” 

However, Niang could not win the league title as Sundowns finished as runners-up to Kaizer Chiefs in the 2014/15 season. 

Despite the Buccaneers having started the league on a high foot this season, Niang believes that the Brazilians will continue dominating the league, there’s no other team that will win the league besides Sundowns. 

“Pirates started this season very well but I don’t see them winning the league,” declared the former SuperSport United striker. 

 “I watched their game last week and Pirates lost 4-1. As much as Sundowns still signing the best players I think they will always win the league.” 

Sundowns have won seven league titles in a row since 2017/18. The 2016 African champions were the only club that won the league under DStv as a sponsor.