team of the WEEK
SIPHESIHLE Ndlovu, recipient of the January Player of the Month award, leads our Team of the Week with another good performance, which has become second-nature for the 21-yearold for the Maritzburg United midfielder. The lad from Ashdown, a township in Pietermaritzburg, has been a consistent figure for United. He offers the club strength in defence while also unlocking the opponent’s defenders with his good attacking skills. Ndlovu is so good at balancing defence and attack in his game that his coach Fadlu Davids doesn’t know whether he is best defensively or offensively. He refined those skills at the KwaZulu-Natal academy, playing everywhere on the field – even showing why he is nicknamed “Mbesuma” as he started out as a striker.
Ndlovu scored in the heated KwaZuluNatal derby that saw the Team of Choice get the better of AmaZulu. He is a key component of the midfield that also features Willard Katsande and the Bidvest Wits’ pair of Gabadinho Mhango and Sifiso Myeni on the wings.
The Clever Boys returned from Durban with vital three points in their march up the standings after a poor start to their title defence. Mhango scored a brilliant goal in the win over Golden Arrows.
Ryan Moon and Gift Motupa lead the attack.
Moon continued to show his poacher’s instincts. The 21-year-old doesn’t do much but has the ability of being at the right place at the right time. His goal in the win over Cape Town City showed just that, directing to goal a cross from Leonardo Castro. This goal made it four goals in his last five matches. Goalkeeper: Richard Ofori (Maritzburg United) Rightback: Joseph Molangoane (Kaizer Chiefs) Leftback: Fares Hachi (Chippa United) Centreback: Daniel Cardoso (Kaizer Chiefs) Centreback: Siyanda Xulu (Maritzburg United) Central midfielder: Willard Katsande (Kaizer Chiefs) Central midfielder: Siphesihle Ndlovu (Maritzburg United) Rightwinger: Sifiso Myeni (Bidvest Wits) Leftwinger: Gabadinho Mhango (Bidvest Wits) Striker: Ryan Moon (Kaizer Chiefs) Striker: Gift Motupa (Baroka FC)