Orlando Pirates midfielder Fortune Makaringe was once expected to leave the club, and just months ago there were whispers of SuperSport United and Sekhukhune United interested in him.
Would he accept his fate as just another fringe player yearning for greener pastures? Those transfer rumours would become the catalyst for a remarkable transformation. Makaringe's fortunes have taken a dramatic turn, thanks to a shift in both position and perception.
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Siya sources close to Bucs have now indicated that both management and technical team might have undergone a change of heart regarding the midfielder.
"I am telling you he was on the verge of leaving the team. Whether it could have been in the January transfer window period or at the end of the season but his future with the club was coming to an end. Fortunately those interests from other clubs have helped him win back his place in the team. The technical team saw that there should be something that the other teams are seeing in him hence the chance in their decision and started playing him. It has helped him as a player and I think it has helped the team as well at this moment," the source told Soccer Laduma.
But Makaringe's return wasn't simply a case of warming the bench. No, Bucs had a plan – a tactical gambit designed to keep him on the pitch and unlock his potential. Enter the unfamiliar territory of right back, which a second Siya source explains.
"You see he has even been deployed in an unfamiliar position at right back. That's just to make sure that he plays and stays at the club because the competition in his usual midfield is very tough and he could have ended up not playing. So, management and the technical team are all happy that interest from other DStv Premiership clubs has helped them discover another position for him and he remains at the team and he could stay longer now," the source informed Soccer Laduma.
And shine he has indeed. As a testament to his defensive versatility, and a newfound confidence clearly coming across in his play, the interest from other clubs served as extra motivation, a nudge that propelled Makaringe back into Bucs' favoured players.
Makaringe's future, once shrouded in uncertainty, now has renewed possibilities. His contract stretches until June 2024, and with his newfound role and resurgent form, a Bucs extension wouldn't be a surprise. For Orlando Pirates, Makaringe's transformation has proven a valuable asset.
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