JOHANNESBURG - The good news for Dove Wome after what was expected to be a permanent move to Orlando Pirates failed to materiliase, is that new SuperSport United coach Eric Tinkler thinks very highly of him.
Having had the Togolese striker on loan for six months in the previous season, the Buccaneers had the option to keep him permanently.
But, according to Pirates administrative manager Floyd Mbele, the club decided to rather get the services of Musa Nyatama from Bloemfontein Celtic instead.
And so, the well-travelled striker who functions superbly operating just in the hole behind the front two, has returned to Matsatsantsa, where he’s having a brilliant pre-season.
“Wome is a SuperSport United player because he still has a contract with the club,” coach Tinkler said
“He was with us in our camp out in Polokwane and I’ve been very impressed with his application at training.”
That should be music to the ears of a player, who no doubt must have thought he had done enough to impress Pirates for them to keep him for good.
The player’s handlers are openly happy for him to return to his parent club.
“Wome has no other offers. We also didn’t look for offers since Pirates had an option (to sign him permanently),” said Michael Ngobeni of M-Sport-Management. “He was not released from SuperSport. He is still their player and he is willing to fight for the jersey.
“Yes, he previously indicated that he will love to make his stay a permanent one at Pirates but it wasn’t to be. Football is like that. There is no harm. We just have to move on.”
Moving on is something Wome does very well. Since arriving in South Africa back in 2011, he has played for four clubs and impressed for all of them.
His two season stint at Free State Stars yielded 10 goals and his generally impressive showings, saw giants Mamelodi Sundowns prising him from the serene surrounds of Bethlehem to Gauteng.
He scored five goals in his 18 appearances for the Brazilians before trading them for neighbours SuperSport, who shipped him to the Buccaneers in the middle of last season and even there he impressed, scoring twice in three appearances.
Supersport are currently preparing for their MTN8 quarter-final encounter against Kaizer Chiefs next week Saturday.