Deano van Rooyen

Deano David van Rooyen (born 24 November 1996) is a South African professional soccer player for the South Africa national team. Quotes It's a great feeling because these words are like a mirror, they make me see myself as the person who I chose to become on the field and off the field. it does feel like all of our hard work has been worth it. There were a lot of sacrifices that were required during high school when we were younger and that wasn't easy, with the hustling between school and training. It required the most attention and dedication from us to make it happen. I can't describe it in words, but it's something of a mixed feeling. He's my closest family member and like a big brother, but you come up against each other in a competition where you both want to win. I like the opportunity to test myself against the best in the country and on the field we are competitors because the game expects it from us, but once the (final) whistle is blown, we look forward to shaking hands and sharing a hug. There is always going to be change and the changes to the team in terms of the personalities and characters and human beings are always unique and different, and it helps having someone like Lee Langeveldt here, who is still with me. Obviously, nothing and no one could ever take the feeling away of us winning promotion to the PSL, especially when it happens on your home ground where you had played growing up at youth LFA (Local Football Association) football. Losing both my parents gave me only two options: either you quit or you continue to fight. I chose to fight and win because the reason I became a professional in the first place was to prove to my family and myself that God has granted me the talent to play at the highest level in my country. The sudden passing of Oshwin was unexpected for me, the club, the community and even the country as a whole. He was a young player with so much talent and his football intelligence and ability was years ahead of someone his age. It was difficult to accept his sudden passing away, but this is not something I want to elaborate on. we have all pushed on in honour of Oshwin's legacy. We want to show that in a time of feeling weakness, we are strong. I signed a long-term contract with the club as I wanted to ensure that I give my service back to a club that has believed in me, and especially to the coaches for their support. They have believed in me since I entered the professional football world and granted me the best possible opportunities up until now to excel. I am an attacking player by nature but was versatile from a young age, meaning I could have played in several forward positions, including as a striker, central midfielder or as a winger. My adaptation from an attacking midfielder to a right back wasn't a big change for me positionally as I used to play on the right wing before, but the defensive side was a massive change as it's a totally different ball game, but I am enjoying the role. Football is always a game of opinion and whether I am overlooked by the national team, even when I am performing consistently week in and week out, will never discourage me. I know who I am and therefore I will always keep working hard and smart until the door is unlocked for me to join the national team. 'I Choose To Fight And Win’, September 2024, Soccer Laduma by Delmain Faver They [Stellenbosch] wanted to keep me, but I told them, let me follow my dream, I wanted something new in my career I have been all the years at Stellenbosch, I was there for eight years, just for me to make a switch and have a different environment, it will show the person I am, my character and my personality. I was talking to my family and players at Stellenbosch about what is best for me, they told me to go after my dreams, and I sat with my family to discuss the move to Orlando Pirates, they said they would be happy for me if I went, it’s what I wanted. I wanted to follow my dreams, but it was a difficult decision. You know they say players don’t survive here in the Jo’burg environment, everything is fast here, the lifestyle, everything, so for me it’s to behave on and off the field. I know why I came here, for me, it’s now to stay focused and just do my job here at Orlando Pirates, I know everyone says players [from Cape Town] come to Pirates and struggle, but I just need to do the right things, listen to the coaches and what they say Deano van Rooyen explains how he plans to succeed at Pirates, November 2024, Afrik-Foot ZA by Joel Oliver External Links Category:Soccer players from South Africa Category:Living people Category:1996 births