Fortune Makaringe has written a farewell message to Orlando Pirates following his departure from the DStv Premiership club.
The 31-year-old former Moroka Swallows midfielder joined the Buccaneers from Maritzburg United in 2019.
He was let go this week having won three MTN8 titles and two Nedbank Cup trophies during 147 appearances that included 10 goals and nine assists.
Makaringe wrote, on iDiski Times: “Dear Mabhakaniya fans, thank you for the love you have shown me since I was announced as your player in 2019 until this year in 2024… Your love is always blessed with enduring Happiness every year… I will always be one of you – once and always.
“My humble gratitude to the Chairman Dr Irvin Khoza, my big brothers, my little sister, and the board of directors at large. Thank you very much for the opportunity you gave me to learn and experience what it takes to become a Buccaneer.
“As a Buccaneer, you presented me with an image full of responsibility, and an image that will forever be attached to the Orlando Pirates FC family and it’s with great honour and privilege that I acknowledge that the responsibility is even greater now because I stand to represent the brand wherever my calling takes me. I’ll forever be grateful for feeling so valued.
“To the whole administration, the advance team, the medical team, the conditional team, the technical team, my kit buddies, and the whole winning media/production crew as well as our sponsors, it’s been an amazing journey full of great memories.
“We tried the best we could to find common ground even in the most difficult times, it’s been a pleasure working alongside you and achieving everything with you.
“To my ninjas, the DDC team, and Pele Pele, thank you for sharing the ball with me, I’ve really learned a lot from each one of you and I’m so grateful I got the opportunity to play to win alongside all of you.
“I’m sorry to everyone I ever had to fight and swear at because I always wanted to be on the winning side, to be topped by a heartfelt compliment after we’ve won. Winning is a personal trait, so it was always going to be personal in the field of play then dusted after completing the task at hand.
“My biggest highlight would definitely be how we tried our best to bring the best out of one another & made it against all odds
“It was nice. Please take care of one another majita.
“Yours in love, Fortune Makaringe.”