Mamelodi Sundowns News Today: What Ndlovu brings, Williams hails Maseko & more

Published on by

Mamelodi Sundowns News Today: What Ndlovu brings, Williams hails Maseko & more
Photo - AF ZA

Latest on Mamelodi Sundowns in the last 24 hours, including what fans can expect from Siyanda Ndlovu and Ronwen Williams weighing in on Thapelo Maseko’s loan redemption.

 

What Ndlovu will offer Mamelodi Sundowns

Siyanda Ndlovu has joined Mamelodi Sundowns.
Siyanda Ndlovu has joined Mamelodi Sundowns.

Mamelodi Sundowns pulled off one of the most dramatic transfer coups of the window on Saturday morning, officially confirming the signing of winger Siyanda Ndlovu from Lamontville Golden Arrows — beating Orlando Pirates to the 22-year-old’s signature in a dramatic late twist.

Ndlovu has been a one-club man in professional football to this point, coming through the development ranks at Golden Arrows.

He was raised in the rural KwaZulu-Natal town of Dannhauser, and rose to prominence through the Golden Arrows Diski Challenge side before breaking into the first team. In all, he made 75 appearances for the Durban-based side, scoring eight goals and registering 13 assists across three full seasons.

Sundowns are short of experienced options on the right wing, so there is a good chance that Ndlovu gets almost immediate game time in the new season. His fine World Cup showings mean Thapelo Maseko will likely stay in Europe, leaving Kutlwano Lethlaku and possibly Antonio Van Wyk as the other competition in the squad.

Williams hails Maseko loan move after World Cup heroics

Thapelo Maseko celebrates his goal with his Bafana teammates against South Korea.
Thapelo Maseko celebrates his goal with his Bafana teammates against South Korea. Photo: SAFA

Bafana Bafana captain and Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper Ronwen Williams has praised the decision to send Thapelo Maseko out on loan, saying it transformed the winger into the player who lit up the World Cup.

After a difficult period with Mamelodi Sundowns, Maseko was granted a loan move, and it turned out to be exactly what he needed.

From not getting game time in the Sundowns first team, he held on tightly to the opportunity he got while on loan to AEL Limassol in Cyprus and did enough to convince Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos to include him in his final squad for the FIFA World Cup.

Thapelo Maseko, Mamelodi Sundowns
Thapelo Maseko, Mamelodi Sundowns

South Africa seized their moment, with Tshepang Moremi crossing to Maseko, who kept his cool, firing home inside the near post in the 63rd minute against South Korea — a goal that made history by sending Bafana Bafana into the World Cup knockout rounds for the first time.

Williams, speaking after the squad’s return to South Africa, was effusive in his praise for his club teammate’s resurgence.

“The move helped Maseko because he wasn’t in a very good space. We saw glimpses of him for his team in Cyprus, but when he arrived into the camp we could see the energy, how fit he was and how he was dribbling. Going into the tournament we know we had a weapon in him because he is so deadly and powerful,” Williams said as per Sportswire.

<!-- Author Start -->Joel Oliver<!-- Author End -->

Joel Oliver

Author

Joel Oliver is a sports journalist covering South Africa, with 16 years in sports media and a Bachelor's Degree in Communication. Focused on football analysis and responsible gambling, his work has appeared on GOAL and Pulse Sports Kenya, and he is a regular football analyst on TV and radio.

You May Also Like