Orlando Pirates’ new signing Deon Hotto admits that joining the Buccaneers was an easy decision for him as it was a club he grew up watching in Namibia.

The 28-year-old joined the Soweto giants on a long-term deal together with former Bidvest Wits teammate Thulani Hlatshwayo after parting ways with Bidvest Wits, who sold their PSL status to Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila (TTM).

The Namibian international will bring a wealth of experience to the club, having scored 20 goals and assisted a further 39 from 177 appearances in all competitions playing for the likes of Golden Arrows, Bloemfontein Celtic and Wits.

However, Hotto is relishing the chance to showcase his talent and prove his worth at his new club.

‘Yah, for me Orlando Pirates is a great team and as a boy growing up in Namibia, it was the biggest club I knew in South Africa. Choosing Pirates for me was an easy decision. This is a club that always competes at the highest level and it is also a club which has a rich history,’ Hotto told his club’s official website.

‘As a player, it is always our aim to compete against the best. When we play against the best, we always need to raise our game to show our potential.

‘Many players who are not at big teams know that not everyone gets to see them until a match against a big team comes along. This is where we use games against the likes of Pirates, Sundowns, Chiefs, etc to show people that we are just as talented as players from those teams.

‘I always have this mentality when I play and it will not change now that I am at Pirates. Every game that I play, I make sure that I put in 110% effort. It’s just who I am.

He added: ‘During my time here at the club my ambition is to continue adding to the rich history of this club. The story of Orlando Pirates is well documented and for players, we all want to be a part of generations of teams that were successful. My aim is to achieve that here with Pirates and I will not stop until I do.’