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Johannesburg - Orlando Pirates’ interim head coach Eric Tinkler says he was surprised to hear about the signing of former Kaizer Chiefs striker Lehlohonolo Majoro on Monday, adding that he was only made aware of the fact by reading newspaper reports the following morning.
The controversial former Amakhosi attacker completed his move across town to the Buccaneers having taken Chiefs to FIFA’s Dispute Resolution Chamber last week, resulting in a successful release from his contract over the weekend.
His contract was due to expire in June this year.
"Majoro… I heard in the newspapers [on Tuesday] morning… to be honest," Tinkler said after Pirates beat Mamelodi Sundowns in a Premiership clash in Pretoria on Tuesday evening.
"Already people were saying, 'will he be in the starting lineup [against Sundowns]?'," he said.
"I think that’s ridiculous, if I have to be honest. But I would assume, if he is now available, he will be joining us at training as of tomorrow [Wednesday].”
Majoro had a tumultuous start to the year, after Chiefs banished him to train with the team’s reserves following a dispute with the player last year.
Majoro was unhappy with a lack of game-time and first team opportunities, which led to him declaring his intentions to leave the Soweto giants when his contract expires midway through this year.
In January, a bizarre transfer battle erupted as SuperSport United claimed to have signed the former AmaZulu player, announcing it on their various social media platforms.
Pirates, however, cried foul, insisting that a deal had been struck between themselves and Majoro, a deal which later revealed that Majoro had gone to the Buccaneers without notifying his agent Tim Sukazi of his intuitions to move to Pirates.
Sukazi is now considering legal action against his former client, having cut ties with Majoro as a result of January’s transfer blunder.
Tinkler fired a warning Majoro’s way on Tuesday night, stating that the striker could not expect to simply demand a place in the team and would have to earn his place in the starting lineup.
"Like everybody else, he’s going to have to prove himself. He’s going to have to work extremely hard to get into this squad,” Tinkler said.
"My opinion, and I know it’s the club’s opinion, [is that] this club doesn’t have space for any superstars.
"Everybody puts in the same amount of work, [and] he needs to do the same. If he does that, then he’ll play… it’s as simple as that."
