Bright Ndlovu handed key finishing role as Sekhukhune United target strong season

Sekhukhune United assistant coach Paulus Masehe says Bright Ndlovu will be an important finisher for the club during the 2026/27 Betway Premiership campaign.

The 26-year-old, now in his second season with Sekhukhune United, was largely deployed as a centre-back last term. However, he increasingly took on attacking responsibilities towards the end of the campaign, returning to a role he had enjoyed at former club Kruger United during their time in the Motsepe Foundation Championship.

Ndlovu scored five goals and provided one assist as Babina finished fifth in the Betway Premiership last season. He has already continued that contribution in the new campaign, making the difference in Sekhukhune United’s home opener against Durban City on Saturday.

He was also on the scoresheet during the pre-season Mafori Cup, which the Limpopo club won in July.

Masehe took charge of the Sekhukhune United dugout at Seshego in the absence of head coach Cedric Kaze. Kaze, the Burundi national, was unavailable because he did not yet have a work permit.

With Sekhukhune United looking to play in a more direct, vertical manner, Masehe believes Ndlovu’s physical presence and ability to convert chances will make him especially valuable.

“To be honest, for us, he is a very, very important player,” said Masehe.

“More especially with the way that we want to play, the vertical way that we want to play,”

“His presence in front of goals, his physicality in front of goals and also his finishing because in half chances, at least we know Ndlovu will try by all means to get something out of it, and we need him.”

“He’s a very important player for us.”

Ndlovu’s role therefore appears to have evolved significantly since the start of last season. Although he spent most of that campaign operating in defence, his late-season move into a goalscoring position gave Sekhukhune United another attacking option.

That change has continued into the opening stages of the new season, with Ndlovu featuring prominently in both the club’s successful pre-season campaign and its first Betway Premiership fixture.

Masehe’s comments make clear that the club views Ndlovu’s contribution in front of goal as part of its wider approach, rather than simply a temporary adjustment. His finishing, physicality and willingness to make opportunities count from limited chances are qualities Sekhukhune United believe will be important as the season progresses.