Mamelodi Sundowns winger Siyanda Ndlovu said people who doubted his move to the club gave him extra motivation. He spoke after helping Sundowns win the MTN8 trophy.
Sundowns beat Orlando Pirates 2-0 in the final at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday. Ndlovu came on as a second-half substitute and won a penalty in stoppage time.
Iqraam Rayners scored from the spot to make the result safe for Sundowns, according to IOL.
“Those remarks actually pushed me, the fact that I’m coming into a team that has quality players means I must compete to be able to claim my position so those that made those remarks actually helped me,” Ndlovu said.
The 23-year-old, known as Skhwishi, said the win meant a lot to him. It was his second trophy with Sundowns and his first MTN8 title.
“I’m very happy to have won my second trophy for the club but more than anything, I hadn’t played the MTN8 before this season so my one wish was to win it as soon as I played the competition so I’m glad that’s happened now,” he told the media.
His transfer to Sundowns was one of the most talked about moves in the local game. At one stage he looked set to join Pirates. A late change of plan took him to Chloorkop instead.
Sundowns already had many star attacking players when he arrived. Some people asked whether he would get enough game time in such a strong squad.
Ndlovu said he did not let the criticism get him down. He said it gave him a reason to work harder and prove himself.
He also said his time at Golden Arrows helped him settle quickly. He pointed to the playing style he learned under former Arrows coach Manqoba Mngqithi.
“In terms of adjusting, I think it was easy for me because the kind of football we play here is similar to how we played at Golden Arrows under coach Manqoba Mngqithi so they made the transition easier,” he said.
Against Pirates, Ndlovu ran straight at defenders and kept Sundowns pushing forward. That pressure led to the penalty that sealed the match.
The victory gave Sundowns their fifth MTN8 title. It also stopped Pirates from winning the competition for a fifth season in a row.
IOL reported that his next challenge is to turn strong showings off the bench into regular starts. Sundowns are still chasing more trophies in other competitions.
Source: this article is based on reporting by IOL Sport. Image: IOL Sport. Written with the help of AI and published by the Tzaneen Voice Sports desk. See our Editorial Standards.
Tiyani Mathebula writes about sport for Tzaneen Voice. Tiyani covers Bafana Bafana, the Springboks, the Proteas and the PSL, along with athletics, tennis and local club sport. Match reports and previews focus on results, team news, fixtures and what each game means for South African teams and fans.