Niang has unfinished business
HAVING signed a new three-year deal with SuperSport United, Senegalese striker Mame Niang says he has a point to prove when he returns to the Pretoria outfit.
Niang was sent out on loan to cross-town rivals the University of Pretoria at the beginning of the season, but he agreed to a new contract and will join up with the Matsatsantsa squad for pre-season preparations in July.
Niang scored 10 goals in 25 appearances for AmaTuks – three less than the league’s top striker, Katlego Mashego – helping the top-flight newcomers to a top-eight finish in the Absa Premiership.
“I love challenges. I feel like I have unfinished business with SuperSport,” Niang said at the AmaTuks awards evening in Pretoria on Wednesday night, where the lanky attacker walked away with the golden boot award for the most goals in the season for the club.
“For me to score two goals in a whole season (at SuperSport in 2011-12), I don’t feel it’s right for a striker of my standard. I have to go back there and show them that they didn’t make a mistake by signing me back.”
With plenty of interest shown in the attacker’s post-season movements from the likes of Orlando Pirates, Bloemfontein Celtic and Moroka Swallows, Niang said he selected United based on their style of play.
“I chose SuperSport because I felt it was the kind of team that might play to my strengths,” he said. “I didn’t want to go to a team that played different football and I end up being nowhere. “I would rather go to a team that plays to my strengths. I’m a different kind of player.”
The forward said he was delighted to leave AmaTuks knowing his goals had helped them qualify for next season’s MTN8 competition. –