What Mosimane likes about Sundowns newcomer Siyanda Ndlovu
Pitso Mosimane has handed Siyanda Ndlovu his first Bafana Bafana call-up, and he has compared the Mamelodi Sundowns youngster to one of his favourite wingers.
The 22-year-old, known as “Skwishi,” was named in the final squad for the back-to-back 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Kenya this month.
He was not on the preliminary list, but a hot run of form changed that. Mosimane pointed to Ndlovu’s recent form as the reason.
“I think if you look at his last four games, I think he came out with the two Man of the Match awards, scoring, assists,” he said.
The coach says Ndlovu reminds him of Thapelo Maseko.
:He is a deliberate player, a little bit of a duplicate to Thapelo Maseko, right? I like those wingers, you know.
“Some people like wingers who turn around and turn around. I like that. Go inside one v one, go behind and go past, bring the ball in the box, let’s tap it in.
“And those are my kind of wingers, you know why, because it’s business. It’s deliberate. And do you score? Of course you must score also. You can’t tell us about assists and you don’t score, right?”
Mosimane made clear that a call-up does not mean a start.
“He’s that kind of player who has intensity, but we still have to check him in the national team because national team is not the same level as club level, right?
“So, we have to check him also in the national team, how is he, can he fit in?,” added Mosimane.
He also explained why he is bringing in new faces.
“Thapelo is injured. We need to create a big pool of players. We don’t have time. I’m not like Rassie (Erasmus) who can say I’m taking the England tour, I’m taking Australian tour, what, what tour.
“I don’t have that. I have to follow what FIFA gives me. And at the moment there’s no friendly games until the finals.
“So how am I going to see these players who are doing well? I need to bring them inside the camp, train with them, and see them.
“When we bring you, doesn’t mean you’re going to play. We acknowledge that you’re doing well. We want to see if you can fit in the setup.”
Ndlovu will join the Bafana camp with a clear message: score, assist, and prove you belong.
