Leopards coach Johnny Ferreira offers Siphelele Ntshangase update

Black Leopards head coach Johnny Ferreira has offered an update on newly signed midfielder Siphelele Ntshangase.

Ntshangase’s return to Leopards was announced shortly before the 1-0 defeat to arch-rivals Polokwane City in the Nedbank Cup qualification round at Malamulele Stadium on Saturday afternoon. 

Ntshangase sat it out on the substitute’s bench and the well-travelled mentor has praised the ex-Kaizer Chiefs attacking midfielder’s attitude. 

The coach reckons that the 29-year-old footballer will bring the right quality to the team once he has regained his full fitness. However, he revealed that they still need to get him to “normal fitness” having spent quite some time on the sidelines. 

JOHNNY FERREIRA ON SIPHELELE NTSHANGASE… 

“Well, Siphelele Ntshangase is a good player. We need to get him back to normal fitness levels,” Ferreira told FARPost. 

“We were so close to putting him as a number 10 there just to see if he can’t seal that equalising goal, but we thought otherwise.”

HOW JOHNNY FERREIRA VALUES SIPHELELE NTSHANGASE… 

Ferreira believes that the return of Ntshangase will add value to his side, given his extensive experience, having represented teams such as Chiefs, Baroka and Marumo Gallants. 

“But once he is fit, Ntshangase will be a big asset to the team. He got big match temperament,” added the Lidoda Duvha coach. 

“He lost his way a little bit in the last three years, and he knows that, and we also know that. But once he fits, he is going to be a match-winner for us.”

He reflected on their performance against the Rise and Shine in the Limpopo derby: “Very dynamic performance from the boys. We attacked, they defended, they attacked, we defended. Both teams needed to be more clinical in the final third. We suggested that one goal would settle the game from whoever would come with that solitary goal.”

“We instructed them to play very similarly in the second half. I think the first half was full value for money for Black Leopards. Unfortunately, we went to sleep and started kicking the ball long. Our only instruction was to play through the midfield. And the opponents capitalised on that.” 

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