Just three days after publicly calling him a “lazy thinker,” AmaZulu FC coach Arthur Zwane has made a bold statement about Thandolwenkosi Ngwenya, backing the in-form forward to reach the same elite heights as Zimbabwean legends Knowledge Musona, Khama Billiat, and Peter Ndlovu.
The 23-year-old has had a fiery start to the 2026/27 season, scoring five goals and providing one assist across four Betway Premiership and MTN8 games. Returning to top form, Ngwenya has managed to shrug off an injury which saw his 2025/26 season end in early March.
Earlier in that campaign, he was also out for four weeks in October and November while battling fitness issues.
It was a term in which he managed seven goals and one assist in 19 outings after arriving at Usuthu from former Zimbabwean champions FC Platinum. Despite his injury-plagued campaign, Ngwenya finished as Usuthu’s top scorer.
He has carried that impressive momentum into the new campaign, establishing himself as one of the league’s most dangerous attackers. His recent displays have prompted a swift change of heart from Zwane, who showered the forward with high praise just three days after criticising him publicly.
The Usuthu mentor now believes the 23-year-old has what it takes to become a superstar, putting behind his harsh words following last Wednesday’s 1-1 draw against Orlando Pirates at Kings Park Stadium.
After witnessing the striker miss a few chances in that match, Zwane said Ngwenya “sometimes becomes a lazy thinker.”
ARTHUR ZWANE MAKES BOLD THANDO NGWENYA CLAIM, PUSHES AMAZULU FC STAR TO BE IN ELITE COMPANY
Zimbabwe has previously supplied big stars to the Betway Premiership like Knowledge Musona, Khama Billiat and the legendary former Mamelodi Sundowns star Peter Ndlovu. Zwane believes Ngwenya has the potential to emulate his compatriots.
“We will work on Thando. I think last season he was something else. Even though the six [league] goals he scored last season, I still say he knows he missed, I don’t know how many one-v-ones, keeper-to-beat,” Zwane told the media.
“He could have easily reached 15 or 16 goals before he got injured. Unfortunately, the league as well was demanding because I remember at one time we were playing in Johannesburg, and then in 30 minutes he was saying, ‘Coach, I can’t keep up with the tempo.’
“I said, ‘Listen, my brother, you are going back there, and you are going to make it, and you are going to do what we are telling you to do whether you like it or not.’ He is a strong boy; he has a strong attitude. He went in there, fought, and he even scored a goal. You know when you have a player like him who shows hunger. He reminds me that he is still young, and he is going to get to the level of the Musonas.
“I’m his mentor, his coach, and I’m going to push him to that level. I want Thando, when he goes to Zimbabwe, he should be treated like Musona, your Biliat, like Peter Ndlovu, because he has that potential as a striker.”
ARTHUR ZWANE’S PLEDGE TO INVEST MORE WORK IN THANDOLWENKOSI NGWENYA
Barring injuries, Zwane feels his striker can be unstoppable. The AmaZulu coach has promised to put more work into Ngwenya to help him avoid the physical setbacks that disrupted his previous campaign.
“He can score, he has goals in him. He is not yet at his best right now because that injury took him out for a very long time, and he came back a little bit sluggish, but because he has goals in him, he is a sniper. We will work on him,” added the former Kaizer Chiefs coach.
“The last thing that can happen to him is for him to get injured. So, right now we need to make sure that we protect him and make sure that he is okay and forever fit because he is one player who is always going to score.”
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