Masindi Nemtajela: My relationship with coach Abdeslam Ouaddou is blossoming because we worked with each other before at Marumo Gallants

Masindi Nemtajela’s previous working relationship with Abdeslam Ouaddou is reaping the rewards for Orlando Pirates.

The midfielder has been one of the impressive new signings who arrived at Orlando Stadium in the off-season with his high work rate.

His impressive displays have seen him earn Bafana Bafana call-ups but only missed out on the trip to Morocco for the Africa Cup of Nations.

Nemtajela arrived in Soweto from Bloemfontein’s Marumo Gallants and has since not looked back. A hard worker of note and hard tackler, the midfielder sees his previous working relationship with Ouaddou at Gallants as the reason behind his form at Pirates.

“I worked with him last season, so we are able to understand each other,” said Nemtajela.

“So, because of the belief he has in me, I try by all means to give back so he can trust me even more.”

Nemtajela has played 14 matches for Pirates so far this season and revealed a key moment in last week’s Carling final where he stayed on the pitch despite a yellow card.

Ordinarily, a coach would substitute such a player protecting him from being dismissed.

“Getting a yellow card in the Carling Knockout final, I raised hand to him thinking he was going to sub me off,” he added.

“But he called me and asked me to play safe since I had a yellow card. Hence, I was able to finish the game.”