Former Mamelodi Sundowns star Manqoba Ngwenya has explained how Jayden Adams’ resurgence has impacted Marcelo Allende.
The Chilean midfielder has been prolific in recent games, scoring three goals in his last eight appearances for the Brazilians. His form, together with Adams’ has further strengthened the Brazilians in a midfield that already has Teboho Mokoena as a high performer.
Adams started the season slowly, leading to him losing his Bafana Bafana spot and being snubbed from the 2025 AFCON squad. But since the turn of the New Year, he has revitalised himself, becoming a Masandawana regular with some influential performances.
A return to the national team is something Adams has earned for himself and he looks likely to be on the plane to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Not only has the 24-year-old personally reinvented himself, but he has had a say in a teammate’s game, according to Ngwenya.
NGWENYA CREDITS ADAMS FOR ‘GETTING THE BEST OUT OF ALLENDE’
“Adams is such great quality, just going about his business silently. The effectiveness that he has, just going about his business silently, spraying those balls and keeping the shape of the team,” Ngwenya said on Soccerbeat.
“I’m very impressed with Adams and I think he is one player who actually got the best out of Allende because, firstly, [Miguel] Cardoso was putting Allende on the bench for Adams. When Allende came from the bench, he started scoring goals which was not part of his game.
“But now he has brought that into his game. That’s what sets the best midfielders apart. You have to score goals even if you are a midfielder. You have to affect the game by scoring and that’s what Allende did.
“The quality of the goals is of some great quality. Definitely impressed with the way Allende is scoring goals. I think it will motivate him even more to continue with the performances.”
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