Orlando Pirates assistant coach Fadlu Davids heaped praise on Siphesihle Ndlovu after the 23-year-old struck a spectacular match-winning goal in midweek.
Ndlovu has taken some time to settle in to life at the Buccaneers after earning their attention with a brilliant spell at Maritzburg United.
The attack-minded midfielder came off the bench to score a long-range winner for Orlando Pirates. Ndlovu’s strike ensured the Sea Robbers took all three points for the first time this season.
An injury to new signing Terrence Dzvukamanja forced Davids to turn to Ndlovu for a creative spark in the final third and the diminutive playmaker obliged.
Watch: Siphesihle Ndlovu lashes in a spectacular winner for Orlando Pirates
Ndlovu, who worked with Davids during their time together at the Team of Choice has impressed the stand-in coach with his work ethic and determination to succeed at Orlando Pirates.
“It’s not easy when you are coming from a new club into a different environment and we saw towards the end of the bubble time where he got in the last three matches, three Man of the Match awards and continued with a Man of the Match in the first match of the new season,” Davids said speaking to the media.
“But, it is a new season and there is competition in the team. Each and every player, not only Ndlovu should work hard to get a place in the team, that is number one, but then keep your place in the team and it is no different for him and every other player,” Davids concluded.
Despite his great form towards the backend of last season, Ndlovu has played just 76 minutes of Orlando Pirates’ Premiership campaign with the club looking to integrate a raft of new talents.
Buccaneers trying to find their sea legs
The task of integrating the handful of big-name players into the group has been rendered more difficult by the sudden departure of coach Josef Zinnbauer, who has been called away by a family emergency.
It is very early to be looking at the table and making inferences from positions but Pirates 1-0 win over Celtic lifts them to sixth on the standings.
Orlando Pirates will face Kaizer Chiefs in MTN 8 action this weekend bringing a 3-0 first-leg lead into the decisive semi-final second-leg.
After the Fifa international break which stretches from 11 – 19 November, Orlando Pirates will face SuperSport United in an all-important Premiership clash.
