Ntuli s still on the ball

SOUTH African junior international Nhlakanipho Ntuli has recovered from his FC Twente disappointment and could be going back to Europe.

Nanana was let go by the Dutch club in January when he was two years into his five-year contract. In a cost-cutting bid, the club s new owners deemed Ntuli, among other players, surplus to requirements.

Ntuli returned home recently, but according to his business manager Mike Makaab, there are Belgian and Scandinavian clubs after his services.

Nanana is training to keep fit at the moment, and we ve got him down at AmaZulu. We are thankful that they have allowed him to come and train with them in Durban,” said Makaab.

We are working on moving him back to Europe and there is already interest.”

Ntuli was considered the country s next best thing after joining Twente in 2014.

On his arrival at FC Twente, Ntuli was confident he would make it in the Netherlands, saying he planned to be better than Kamohelo Mokotjo.

Considered one of the best players in Dutch s top-flight Eredivisie, Mokotjo, called up to the Bafana Bafana squad to play Cameroon on March 26 and 29, is on FC Twente s books.

After spending two years at the club, Ntuli only featured for their reserves and never made an official appearance for the senior team.

Makaab said the now 20-year-old Ntuli was in the right frame of mind after his exit from FC Twente, but cautioned that he should have the burning desire to make it at the top level.

It is vital to do things well offthe-field as he does on the field and he knows that. I m very close to him and don t regard him a client,” said Makaab.

You can encourage people to do right, but it s got to come from within. If you don t have the burning desire to be the best, you are not going to achieve anything, no matter how much people motivate you.”

Makaab is convinced Ntuli can still live up to expectations.

Obviously, that was a disappointment. But it was beyond his control because at the end of the day, the entire [FC Twente] management changed,” said Makaab.

The whole club has changed. I don t have to tell you that new people come in with new ideas.

It was an amicable parting and we did the settlement agreement.”

The former Orlando Pirates academy graduate has played for

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In 2014, Bafana coach Shakes Mashaba named Ntuli as one of the reserve players for matches against Sudan and Nigeria.

Ntuli was not available for comment.

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