Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso has lauded Siyanda Ndlovu’s “offensive magic”, but was quick to water down expectations on the talented attacker while pointing out key areas for improvement.
Ndlovu was one of the most sought-after properties in the current transfer window following his departure from Golden Arrows. Orlando Pirates looked set to seal his signature after the attacker completed medical tests, but Sundowns hijacked the move to land the 22-year-old, who has featured twice in the Betway Premiership so far in the Tshwane giants’ colours.
The KwaZulu-Natal-born winger made his Sundowns debut against Kaizer Chiefs last weekend in the league, and made another substitute appearance against Marumo Gallants FC in midweek. He could feature in his third match for Sundowns, interestingly, against his former club Arrows in an MTN8 semi-final, first-leg clash at Lucas Moripe Stadium on Sunday.
From the bench, Ndlovu has shown flashes of brilliance, promising to become a key Masandawana player. But drawing an example from Siyabonga Mabena’s experience last season, Cardoso lowers expectations on Ndlovu.
MIGUEL CARDOSO’S VERDICT ON SIYANDA NDLOVU
“Our job as coaches is obviously to create conditions for the players to be consistent. Siyanda is a player who has already played many PSL matches,” Cardoso told the media.
“I remember last year, for example, we also had a lot of excitement around Mabena, and we even aligned him at the beginning of the season in several matches. But then there was a bit of inconsistency from him, and we had to go for another round, and we will still promote him in the future, that’s for sure. But we have to take another step.
“So the level of readiness of a player obviously speaks a lot about how many chances he will continue to have. I think it was very important that Sundowns could get Siyanda for the group. He is a player whom we have a lot of expectations of. I think I was very clear in the moments I spoke about him, how the pre-season was for him.”
While pinpointing Ndlovu’s qualities, Cardoso, however, feels the winger is yet to be a complete player defensively and still needs to fully understand the way Sundowns play.
“He got injured after one or a few days of training sessions, and he didn’t train until one week before the first match that he played against Chiefs. So, his match readiness is still developing,” the Portuguese coach went on.
“His understanding of the team is still developing. Of course, offensively he is that magic that everybody sees. But, for example, defensively he has a lot of inconsistencies and a lot of things to develop.”
COMPETITION FOR NDLOVU AND CARDOSO’S PLEDGE TO IMPROVE
Sundowns boast of right wingers like Kutlwano Letlhaku and fellow winter signing Antonio van Wyk, while left wideman Tashreeq Matthews can also play on the right, providing stiff competition for Ndlovu. Cardoso says they still have a lot of work to do with Ndlovu and will provide him with an environment for growth.
“But we are also excited, like everybody, about him. We want to get that energy and take profit from it as much as possible. But we know that to develop a player for the long term, for both Sundowns and the country, we need to work a lot on him, and he is willing to do it because he is very excited to be with us,” added Cardoso.
“So we are very happy. Obviously we also have a lot of competition in his position. But he is a player who has creativity and can sometimes help the coaches to unlock teams that are narrow, tight and with closed spaces; in the moment, those teams get tired, or to create tiredness in the teams.
“So, I’m happy from our side, but as a young player he is, we also need to create a proper emotional and psychological environment for him.”
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