Gordinho happy to be out on loan

Lorenzo Gordinho is getting on with business at Bloenfontein Celtic. Photo: BackpagePix

Lorenzo Gordinho is getting on with business at Bloenfontein Celtic. Photo: BackpagePix

Published Jan 13, 2018

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Lorenzo Gordinho, doesn’t yet have the words to describe how he felt when Kaizer Chiefs coach Steve Komphela and football manager Bobby Motaung informed him that he would be going out on loan for 12 months.

But the defender, whose future with Amakhosi is now in serious doubt, is moving on with life in the Free State capital playing for Bloemfontein Celtic.

“I think I still have a career at Chiefs because I am a Chiefs player,” said Gordinho, who was already in line to make his second appearance for his Celtic away at Maritzburg United last night.

“Celtic have given me a chance to come and help them and I am happy to be here. I was faced with a different situation at Chiefs, where things changed after I got injured. But I am ready and fit again.”

And that he is, with Celtic fans singing his name on his debut last week in a 2-1 win over Golden Arrows at the Dr Petrus Molemela Stadium.

Gordinho has not buried his head in the sand, asking himself why he was the player chosen by Komphela and Motaung to bargain with in their efforts to get Celtic to release midfielder Kabelo Mahlasela five months before his contract expired.

The truth is, if Gordinho had been pouting about following his shock loan move, there would be an unbelievable amount of public sympathy.

This is, after all, a defender who had managed over 45 games for Chiefs in two seasons, but had suddenly dropped down the pecking order and eventually lent to another team.

“I think Celtic have the potential to finish in the top four and I am here to help them achieve that,” said a confident Gordinho.

“We are sitting in a good position now on the log (sixth place before last’s night match) and this team is determined to work hard and to stay up there.

“I am here to help them continue what they started at the beginning of the season. I’m really just grateful.”

It did not take long for Gordinho to break into the Celtic line-up, especially since they only had eyes for this specific player when Chiefs asked who would be an ideal sweetener for the Mahlasela deal.

“I sat down with the coach (Veselin Jeluic),” revealed Gordinho, who signed for Celtic on a Wednesday and made his debut on the Sunday.

With Wandisile Letlabika out injured, it a no-brainer for a new centre-back to slot it quickly.

“He (Jeluic) just basically told me to do my best and he knows what that is. He told me to adapt to the situation and perform, with consistency.

“This is a chance for me to get back to my form and I am glad we won in my first game.”

It’s too early for Gordinho to discuss whether he likes living in Bloemfontein or if Celtic can actually afford to buy him outright.

But given that he is only returning to Chiefs in the middle of the next season, possibly with Amakhosi having a new coach, a lot can change in a year.

@superjourno

Saturday Star

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