Sadate Hoping For Success
Sadate Ouro-Okorinko
and Free State Stars parted ways with the Togolese central defender having made
a staggering 76 starts out of 90 league games played for the Bethlehem outfit
during the last three seasons. Sadate explains why he chose AmaZulu FC ahead of
Orlando Pirates.
Personal Information
Full names: Sadate Ouro-Okorinko
Date of birth: 7 February 1988
Place of birth: Sokode, Togo
Nickname: Policeman
Position: Defender
Jersey no: 13
Club: AmaZulu
Previous teams:
Espoir Tsevie
Shooting Star of Lome (Togo)
Free State Stars
Honours: 20 Togo national team caps
You made your name in
the PSL with Free State Stars and you are now at AmaZulu FC. Tell us about the
move.
I spent three wonderful years with the club before my
contract ended. After my contract had expired I knew that I had to move on.
Staying was not an option and I was looking for a club that would boost my
playing career. It came down to which team would be best suitable for me and it
was an easy decision to choose AmaZulu.
Stars struggled at
the bottom of the log last season, and in a situation like that people tend to
point fingers at the defenders. Why do you believe AmaZulu were so keen to sign
you?
We played a league game against them in Bethlehem (in
November). I think I was the Man of the Match in that game, although the game
was not live on television. We played to a 1-1 draw and I think AmaZulu were
impressed with my performance and soon after that match showed a lot of
interest.
During the 2013/14
season you made 25 league starts for Stars, but towards the end of the season,
when the side was fighting for their survival in the PSL, you were no longer
included in the team. Can you tell us about that?
Ja, you know, in the three years I had been with Free State Stars,
I had always played. I was never substituted or anything like that. I didn’t
play only because of yellow cards or injury. Last season was the same, I
started well and everything went well. After I signed a pre-contract with AmaZulu,
they told me that my mind is not with the team.
Were you not
committed enough at Stars after signing a pre-contract with Usuthu?
No, I can’t be like that, I’m a professional player.
Football is my job and I can’t do anything like that to my current club just
because I sign a pre-contract with another club. I still had a contract with
them so I would not have done something like that. I respected my contract with
Stars.
How did you feel when
suddenly you were excluded because they thought your mind was not with the
team?
I didn’t have any problem because I had already signed with
AmaZulu. I just said ‘no, its fine, no problem. It’s life. I wasn`t the first
one to have such a problem. I`ve seen so many players with the same problem in
the past, not necessarily at Stars, but from my country I`ve seen players with
the same problem.
You were one of the
most reliable defenders for Stars for three seasons. Were you not disappointed
at how your stay with the team ended?
No, I can’t say that because I would not say I expected to
be at Stars for 10 or 5 years. I need to move forward.
Okay, before your
move to Usuthu, it was rumoured that Orlando Pirates and Platinum Stars were
interested in you.
You know, Pirates is a big team. When I came to South Africa
in 2011 they wanted me and Free State Stars said no. The same thing happened
after my second season. AmaZulu came forward and I started talking to them
before Pirates. I can`t just go there because of money. I decided to come to
AmaZulu and see what God is going to do for me here. If you want to go somewhere because you want to
get too much money, you are going to have problems. You know the way Emmanuel
Adebayor was playing at Arsenal before leaving the club. He moved to Man City
because of money and he started having problems. You need to stay where you can
be okay with no stress and to enjoy your life with your family, then you can do
everything good. But if you go somewhere because of money, that`s not good.
Are you happy with
what you are getting at AmaZulu this season?
I`m happy with it, more than happy.
Why do you say that?
Life is like that. I moved from Stars to AmaZulu because of
something. I need to show that. I need to get something. For example, if I didn’t
win anything at Stars and then move, I need to win with AmaZulu.
Thanks for your time.
All the best.
Thank you.