Photo Credit: Gallo Images/Lefty Shivambu
Mamelodi Sundowns on loan midfielder Katlego “Tsiki” Ntsabeleng on Friday won his first Man of the Match for the club since joining them in January on loan from MLS side Dallas FC.
His former coach at the University of Johannesburg and Orlando Pirates legend, Mandla Zwane, said that Sundowns should keep Ntsabeleng, as he has a great future ahead of him.
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Talking to Soccer Laduma in an exclusive interview, Zwane said that Ntsabeleng could be the best replacement for veteran midfielder Themba Zwane.
“You know he is on loan from FC Dallas to Sundowns, so Idon’t know what their agreement is. It may depend on game time or going back will depend in terms of foreignerquotas whether they foreigners and whether he’s a foreigner or not.
“Having said that, you remember what I told you, if he can give it, it’s always been considered a good challenge because he is always in the travelling squad of 20. So, if he gets a chance to grow, you know he needs to take this opportunity forward, and I think last night’s (Friday) match was one of the best matches that he proved that he’s Sundowns material,” Zwane told Soccer Laduma.
“So, and if you look at, if you look at it properly, he has a combination with Themba “Mshishi” Zwane. And I think they looked at him as a replacement for Mshishi going forward. That’s my observation. You know what I’m saying. But if you started ahead of Mshishi. Okay, Mshishi can say he had a game with the national team a couple of days prior, but I mean, if he’s been given the nod ahead of Mshishi and ahead of other players, it says a lot about him as a player, you see.
“It also proves what I said before that if given a chance, he can make use of that opportunity. I know, you know, I worked with him. I know what type of player he is. If he’s a good check, he showed some skills that Sundowns supporters are missing.
Ntsabeleng’s former coach at the University of Johannesburg said that the midfielder has not yet reached his full potential.
“No, yet because it was his first debut match that he started the game. So it was always coming in as a sub, but then going forward he says he raises his hand actually to say I’m also as good as those who start, you see.
“So just imagine if Tebogo Mokoena was playing with Jayden Adams, he was gonna come in as a number 10. He was gonna be much more effective, you see. Okay, Allende, because Allende also, and Mokoena, so they form a triangle shape. But at the same time, now Sundowns really needs the wingers,” Zwane concluded.
Ntsabeleng has a few games left this season to convince Sundowns’ technical team and management that they can sign him permanently for next season and beyond.
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