Bafana chasing home points
NDLOVU: PROLIFIC STRIKER THOUGH IS LIKELY TO UNDERSTUDY STAR DUO
Despite the long trip home he is eager to make his mark.
It is fair to say that striker Dino Ndlovu’s career in South Africa has never quite got off the ground, whether playing in the Premier Soccer League or for Bafana Bafana.
Ndlovu has, however, carved out quite a career in club football overseas, and his form in China right now was enough for Stuart Baxter to give him another call for the upcoming 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Group E qualifiers against the Seychelles.
Bafana play the Seychelles today at the FNB Stadium before the return match just three days later, with victory in both matches putting them virtually on the plane to Cameroon 2019.
Ndlovu, who has netted 18 times in 21 league games for Zhejiang Greentown in the Chinese second division, is one of the candidates to start up front today, though Stuart Baxter seems more likely to go for Lebo Mothiba and Percy Tau, especially as Ndlovu arrived late after his flight from Hong Kong was cancelled.
“I am very happy with my form, or I don’t think the coach would have called me here,” said Ndlovu this week at Bafana training.
“I came here to help guys like Lebo and Percy, they are young boys with a bright future. I will help them if they start and if I start I am sure they will also give me the courage and motivation to do better on the pitch.”
Baxter, meanwhile, said he was happy Ndlovu could push through any tiredness from his long trip.
“He arrived late and I gave him 15 minutes in the game against SuperSport (Bafana played a training match against them on Wednesday) to get the wrinkles out. He is optimistic and has a good attitude. If there is a pain barrier to go through, I am sure he will go through it.”
Bafana will be heavy favourites to beat Seychelles in both matches, despite their indifferent form of late. The island nation do not have professional football in their country and look very much the whipping-boys in Group E.
“The Seychelles have nothing to lose and will have the courage to come out and play, but at the end of the day it is not about what the Seychelles can do, it is about what we can do,” added Ndlovu, who gave his own explanation of why he never quite hit the heights with the likes of Bloemfontein Celtic, SuperSport United and MP Black Aces.
“I think, with all due respect to the coaches I had in South African football, they were good coaches but I was never given a good chance. I also blame myself in other aspects, especially at home I was in a comfort zone, and I never pushed myself to my limit.
“I don’t want to dwell on it too much … I am happy for everyone around me at my club (in China), and I hope what I am doing at my club I can bring back to the national team.”
Kick-off: 3pm