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Sundowns maestro: The one team I didn't want to play for...

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PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA - JANUARY 16:  Neo Maema of  Mamelodi Sundowns celebrates his goal with teammate Themba Zwane during the DStv Premiership match between Mamelodi Sundowns and SuperSport United at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on January 16, 2023 in Pretoria, South Africa. (Photo by Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images)
PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA - JANUARY 16: Neo Maema of Mamelodi Sundowns celebrates his goal with teammate Themba Zwane during the DStv Premiership match between Mamelodi Sundowns and SuperSport United at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on January 16, 2023 in Pretoria, South Africa. (Photo by Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images)

Mamelodi Sundowns maestro Neo Maema has explained the one team he did not want to join.

Maema burst onto the scene in Bloemfontein Celtic colours during the 2017/18 campaign and would eventually join Sundowns in 2021 still as somewhat of a fringe player, making 17 starts in his first season.

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These days, the Free State-born left-footer is hailed as one of the most industrious midfielders in the PSL with 89 appearances for a star-studded Sundowns outfit.

Speaking on the Mamelodi Sundowns Pitchside Podcast, Maema revealed that while he was at Celtics, opposition players would ask him to join their teams and that there one one team he never considered joining

"The one team I didn’t want to go to was [Orlando] Pirates," Maema said.

"That was from a young age. I don’t know if it’s my spirit or what, but it doesn’t feel okay with me. 

"That’s one team that, even when I didn’t even see the opportunity that I would even make it to a big team, it was always a team that I didn’t want to play for.

“I still feel the same to this day, that thing doesn’t go away," the midfielder said. 

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"Now, I’m fully invested in Mamelodi Sundowns. I don’t think even think about other teams. The tricky part, but not tricky, is that most of my family are Pirates fans and I’m like I have to disappoint them. 

"It’s unfortunate, till this day."

Sundowns will host Pirates at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Saturday. Kick-off is at 15:00.

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