Ntuli puts club ahead of personal glory
BONGI Ntuli nurses ambitions of winning the Lesley Manyathela Golden Boot but he is not putting his personal ambitions ahead of Amazulu’s objective of surviving relegation.
Ntuli has scored 11 goals and is just three behind the Absa Premiership’s leading scorer Gabadinho Mhango while Amazulu are struggling for survival.
The marksman has performed with distinction in the colours of Usuthu and most of those goals have proven crucial in Amazulu’s quest to get away from the relegation zone.
“The team comes ahead of my personal ambitions. If I have to choose, I will choose to stay in the top flight rather than winning the top goalscorer award. I want to help the team win the remaining matches. We want to get out of the relegation zone,” the soft-spoken Ntuli told the media after training at People’s Park in Durban.
Usuthu have rattled the back of the net 12 times in 21 league outings with all but one of those coming from Ntuli. The other goal was scored by Butholezwe Ncube against Bloemfontein Celtic.
“I haven’t given up on the race for the Golden Boots. I want to add to my tally. But I have to first help the team get points. I want to see the team winning first and then my personal ambitions can follow,” elaborated Ntuli, who has nine games to add to his tally.
“For me it is all about doing well at training. Whatever I do at training I have to transfer to a game situation. I want to continue to help the team by scoring important goals as I’ve done throughout this season,” he added.
Ntuli rose to prominence during his time with Golden Arrows before moving to Mamelodi Sundowns. His record against his former team is impressive.
“There’s always that pressure whenever I face Arrows because I used to be their player. But I always score against Arrows and hopefully my good luck will continue,” Ntuli stated.
Usuthu were humbled 4-1 by Celtic in the last 32 of the Nedbank Cup in their last match.
“It will be a difficult game. They (Arrows) were bundled out of the Nedbank Cup and we also bowed out in the last 32. So that’s why it is going to be a difficult game,” Ntuli acknowledged.
Five years ago he suffered relegation with Amazulu. Before moving to Sundowns, Ntuli was also relegated with Arrows but is confident that it won’t happen again.
“We are giving our all. I have high hopes. I don’t see us getting relegated. We have quality players and I’m confident that we will avoid relegation,” Ntuli concluded.