One of Siphesihle Ndlovu’s development coaches Andile Cele has revealed how he changed the player’s game upon discovering his qualities as a youngster.
The two worked together around 2014 at Maritzburg City in the ABC Motsepe League after scouting him in the academies in KwaZulu-Natal. with Cele explaining that the new Kaizer Chiefs midfielder did very well and as a captain for the season and half he was at City to a point that the coach started talking to Premiership division coaches in the province about him.
The AmaZulu U19 coach revealed that Ndlovu wanted to play like an old Sunday League player and he immediately chatted with him to do more than he was capable of and the rest is history.
Cele says he has always known the 28-year-old was destined for great things and he is not surprised with how the former Orlando Pirates man’s career has gone.
“I remember when he first came, he wanted to be like an old Sunday League player, pass stand,” Cele told iDiski Times.
“And then I remember having a chat with him. I said, you boy you have an ability of also running with the ball, of also driving with the ball forward. So don’t act lazy. So work, like your age still allows you to do more, rather than just giving passes standing as if you are towards your retirement. So, he listened, then from there became a very changed player. He was very attentive to instructions. Yeah, he was special, special, special. He had imagination. He was also strong in duels but most important, he scored lot of goals. So he was that number eight up, box to box but he also had a problem of studs-up and got unnecessary red cards but he’s a born competitor, a boy who’s spiritually connected with his God, disciplined, knows what he wants.”
“I think that boy can play up until he’s 40, like Shoes [Moshoeu] because he really is looking after himself very well. I remember Maritzburg United came to me. He was first scouted when he was playing for us, by KZN Academy, when that international tournament was still around in Durban. So, he went there and played for them and then after that, he came back to us. When he came back to us, then there was this DDC thing, and Maritzburg United got the clearance. I remember they came and fetched it at my house. It was already signed by the late Mr Hlope the Maritzburg City chairman. And then we gave him our blessings. He went and joined Maritzburg United. By then coach Fadlu Davids was still in charge in their DDC. So then, from there he never looked back.
“We knew that he was destined for greatness. So, whatever is coming his way, I’m not surprised. Special player, disciplined, a rare breed he has all the attributes.
“He fits all the factors of performance. You talk about your socially well behaved, physically well maintained, tactically coachable, technically superior.”
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