Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso believes Siyanda Ndlovu can continue to improve, suggesting that more time on the training pitch could help the promising attacker develop tactically and become a more consistent performer.
Sundowns’ elimination from the CAF Champions League could provide an opportunity for Cardoso and his technical team to focus more on tactical work with the squad, with the Portuguese coach highlighting the importance of individual development when discussing Ndlovu’s performances.
The mercurial winger has shown encouraging signs going forward, but Cardoso believes there are still areas of his game that need improvement, particularly defensively, as Sundowns look to get the best out of his attacking qualities.
Reflecting on Ndlovu’s display, Cardoso acknowledged the intent the player brings to the team while emphasising that consistency in his decision-making and tactical behaviour remains an important part of his development.
“Obviously, Siyanda is a player that can give some impermissibility on the match, but there’s also many things on the game that he still needs to learn… defensively he still struggles, but we have to try to extract the best he has – and help him to get better and better,” he said.
“And inside the pitch, when he still misses here and there, the team to cover for him, and that’s what is been happening is the spirit because he wants to do [well]. It’s just a matter of what we want him to do, and get that consistency in terms of behaviours,” he added.
Ndlovu has five goal contributions in 13 games so far since his off-season transfer from Golden Arrows, after scoring his third goal in the 1-0 win over Marumo Gallants on Tuesday evening that secured their place in the next round of the Carling Knockout Cup.
But Cardoso suggested there’s more to come from the likes of ‘Skwishi’, confirming there could be a silver lining in their early exit from the CAF Champions League this season.
“Unfortunately, very unfortunately, we have more time to train in one month when we come from Qatar, and then with more time to train, probably also have more time to teach some of the things that are important for them to grow as as individual in terms of individual tactics, and then obviously that will be put it on the service of the team and will make the team grow,” Cardoso explained.
“I think he made a beautiful game today with a lot of intention, a lot of he puts everything all the time, and he has been giving outcomes out of it, of course, and we need to profit from that,” he concluded.
For Ndlovu, the challenge will be to turn those promising attacking displays into consistent performances while improving his defensive discipline, with Cardoso making it clear that Sundowns intend to help him develop into a more complete player.