Siphesihle Ndlovu

Siphesihle Ndlovu (born 30 September 1996) is a South African professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Premier Soccer League side Orlando Pirates and the South Africa national team. An academy graduate of Maritzburg United, he made his professional debut in 2016 and went on to make over 80 appearances for the club. During the 2017–18 season, he helped the club to record-high fourth-place finish in the league and was rewarded for his form with the Young Player of the Season award. At the end of the following season, he joined Orlando Pirates. He is a fan favorite in Pietermaritzburg and his nickname is Mbesuma.

Siphesihle Ndlovu
Personal information
Date of birth (1996-09-30) 30 September 1996[1]
Place of birth Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
Height 1.62 m (5 ft 4 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 SuperSport United
Number 15
Youth career
Umgungundlovu Academy of Sport
Maritzburg United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2016–2019 Maritzburg United 68 (5)
2019–2022 Orlando Pirates 41 (2)
2022– SuperSport United 2 (0)
International career‡
2018 South Africa 5 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 7 October 2022
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 7 October 2022

Ndlovu is also a full international since March 2018 and has represented South Africa at a COSAFA Cup.

Club career

Maritzburg United

Having previously been a ball-boy for the club, Ndlovu joined the youth academy of Maritzburg United from the now defunct Umgungundlovu Academy of Sport in Pietermaritzburg.[2][3] He excelled during his time in the club's academy where he played in the SAB League and earned the nickname Mbesuma, in reference to former PSL top goalscorer, Collins Mbesuma.[3][4] In 2016, he was promoted to senior side by coach Roger De Sa alongside Mlondi Dlamini and Tso Motjatji.[5] He made his debut for the club on 22 October 2016 when he came on as a substitute for Denis Weidlich in a penalty shootout loss to Kaizer Chiefs in the Nedbank Cup.[6] His league debut followed on 20 December in a 1–1 draw with Bidvest Wits and he went on to make 18 appearances across all competitions for the season.[2]

Ndlovu enjoyed a stellar campaign under Fadlu Davids during the 2017–18 season in which he helped the club to an historic league finish.[7] In January 2018, he became the first-ever player from Maritzburg United to win the Absa Premiership Player of the Month award and two months later was rewarded with a new long-term contract with the club, ending speculation linking him with a transfer away.[8][9] He then made his 50th appearance for the club on 25 April when he started in a 2–2 draw with Mamelodi Sundowns.[10] The following month, he featured in the Nedbank Cup final where Maritzburg United were defeated 1–0 by Free State Stars.[11] The season culminated with Maritzburg United ending fourth in the league; their highest ever finish with their highest ever points tally.[12] On 21 May, following a campaign in which he played in all but three matches, scored five goals and was the most fouled player in the league, Ndlovu was nominated for a host of PSL awards including the awards for Midfielder of the Season, Young Player of the Season and Footballer of the Season.[7] He was also nominated for the Most Promising Player award for his performances in the Nedbank Cup.[13][14][15] The award ceremony was held eight days later during which he walked away with the Midfielder of the Season and Young Player of the Season awards.[16]

Ahead of the following season, Ndlovu reportedly agreed to a deal in principle to sign with Mamelodi Sundowns at the end of the campaign.[17] He struggled for form during the first half of the season and picked up his first professional red card when he received a direct dismissal for a studs-up challenge on Kaizer Chiefs defender Siyabonga Ngezana in August.[18][19] His struggles coincided with those of the Maritzburg United's who ended the domestic season second last in the league standings, having gone through three managers. As a result, the club was forced to take part in the promotion play-offs in which Ndlovu scored once to ensure they maintained their top-flight status.[20]

Orlando Pirates

On 12 June 2019, Ndlovu confirmed that he had signed a three-year deal with Orlando Pirates. Upon making the announcement, he informed media that he had never signed any agreement with Sundowns and that his reason for joining Pirates was that the club's style of play suited his abilities.[21]

International career

South Africa

In March 2018, Ndlovu was called up to the South African national team for the first time by coach Stuart Baxter for the inaugural Four Nations Invitational Tournament.[22] He made his debut on 21 March, coming on as a second-half substitute for Maphosa Modiba in a 1–1 (7–6) penalty shootout win over Angola.[23] He made his first start three days later as South Africa beat hosts Zambia 2–0 to claim the title.[24]

Later that year he was named in Baxter's squad for the 2018 COSAFA Cup. He started in South Africa's opening match in the competition, a penalty shootout loss to Madagascar.[25][26] He featured throughout the tournament as South Africa went on to lift the Plate title, equivalent of a fifth-placed finish.[27]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 14 October 2020[1]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup1 League Cup2 Continental3 Other4 Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Maritzburg United 2016–17 PSL 16010100000180
2017–18 PSL 27540000030345
2018–19 PSL 25000210051322
Total 68550310081847
Orlando Pirates 2019–20 PSL 13010100000150
Career total 81560410081997

1 Includes Nedbank Cup matches.
2 Includes Telkom Knockout matches.
4 Includes MTN 8 and PSL promotion play-off matches.

International
As of 8 June 2018[28]
National teamYearAppsGoals
South Africa 201850
Total50

Honours

Individual

Orlando Pirates F.C

2019

References
  1. "S. Ndlovu". Soccerway. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
  2. Ngidi, Njabulo (6 February 2018). "From ball-boy to golden boy: Maritzburg United's Ndlovu an inspiration to his city". Independent Online. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
  3. Madlala, Robin-Duke (24 February 2018). "Maritzburg United midfielder Siphesihle Ndlovu backed to win PSL Footballer Of the Year". Kick Off. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
  4. "Maritzburg United wonderkid Siphesihle Ndlovu living out his dreams". Independent Online. 1 June 2018. Retrieved 6 June 2018.
  5. Said, Nick (12 July 2016). "Maritzburg United unveil 13 new players ahead of new PSL season". The Sowetan. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
  6. "Kaizer Chiefs v Maritzburg Utd 0-0". Soccerway. 22 October 2016. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
  7. "Siphesihle Ndlovu is aware the expectations have been raised at Maritzburg United". Kick Off. 21 July 2018. Retrieved 11 August 2018.
  8. "Siphesihle Ndlovu honoured to make Maritzburg United history". Kick Off. 19 February 2018. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
  9. "Hands Off, Chiefs & Co! - Maritzburg Starlet Pens New Deal". Soccer Laduma. 11 April 2018. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  10. "Congratulations to 21-year old BafanaBafana midfielder Siphesihle Ndlvou who makes his 50th career club appearance for Maritzburg United this evening". Twitter. FenomenoZA. 25 April 2018. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
  11. Strydom, Marc (19 May 2018). "Free State Stars crowned Nedbank Cup kings after win over Maritzburg". Times Live. Retrieved 20 May 2018.
  12. "Transfer Update As Maritzburg Gear Up". Soccer Laduma. 5 August 2018. Retrieved 11 August 2018.
  13. "Analysing PSL Midfielder of the Season nominees Hlompho Kekana, Siphesihle Ndlovu and Musa Nyatama". Kick Off. 24 May 2018. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
  14. "PSL Reveal Absa Premiership Award Nominees!". Soccer Laduma. 21 May 2018. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  15. "PSL Announce MTN8, Telkom And Nedbank Cup Nominees". Soccer Laduma. 21 May 2018. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  16. Ntloko, Mninawa (29 May 2018). "Sundowns' Percy Tau walks away with top honours at glittering PSL awards". Sowetan Live. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
  17. Breakfast, Siviwe (12 June 2019). "Orlando Pirates news: Siphesihle Ndlovu confirms Bucs move". The South African. Retrieved 14 June 2019.
  18. "Absa Premiership match report Maritzburg United v Kaizer Chiefs 17 August 2018". Kick Off. 17 August 2018. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
  19. Gleeson, Mark (18 January 2019). "Siphesihle Ndlovu needs changes after his 'plane crash says Ertugral". Times Live. Retrieved 3 February 2019.
  20. Hadebe, Sazi (29 May 2019). "Maritzburg United retain premiership status after beating Royal Eagles in play-offs". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 14 June 2019.
  21. Mlotha, Sipho (12 June 2019). "Why Ndlovu chose Bucs over Downs". Kick Off. Retrieved 14 June 2019.
  22. Gumbi, Sibongiseni (14 March 2018). "Ndlovu delighted with Bafana call-up". The Citizen. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
  23. "Four nations match report Bafana Bafana v Angola 21 March 2018". Kick Off. 21 March 2018. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
  24. "Four nations match report Bafana Bafana v Zambia 24 March 2018". Kick Off. 24 March 2018. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  25. "Baxter names Bafana COSAFA Cup squad". Sport 24. 22 May 2018. Retrieved 3 June 2018.
  26. Strydom, Marc (3 June 2018). "Bafana crash out of Cosafa Cup after defeat to Madagascar". Times Live. Retrieved 3 June 2018.
  27. Strydom, Marc (8 June 2018). "Bafana beat Botswana to lift Plate in Cosafa Cup". Times Live. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
  28. "Ndlovu, Siphesihle". National Football Teams. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
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