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Norodien explains debut Soweto derby feeling

Cape Town - Orlando Pirates midfielder Riyaad Norodien reveals he got goose bumps when he entered the fray at a packed Soccer City in the 2016 Carling Black Label Cup.

A massive 85,000 supporters had packed the stands for the first Soweto derby of the season and, for the new Orlando Pirates' signing, it was a day to remember.

Despite the Bucs losing 2-0 to their fierce rivals, the former Ajax Cape Town attacker says he thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

He told the club's official website: "The buzz of being on the pitch in front of so many supporters was great.

"To be honest, there were butterflies in my stomach when I was about to come on to the pitch but I just told myself to calm down and just do what I enjoy doing, which is to play football.

"Coming on when the team is losing is never easy so automatically my mind was tuned to try and get that equaliser but at the same time I was conscious of the fact that this was my first introduction to the supporters.

"As a player, you want to have the backing of the supporters - the sooner that happens, the easier things become and you also gain more confidence.

"The excitement of the derby was great. To hear that deafening roar of our supporters when the team walked to the centre of the pitch to salute the crowd - that moment gave me goose bumps."

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