Golden Arrows captain Jiyane wary of Ndlovu threat in MTN8 semi-final

Golden Arrows captain Ayanda Jiyane says his side’s previous knowledge of former team-mate Siyanda Ndlovu will offer only limited insight when they face Mamelodi Sundowns in the MTN8 semi-final first leg on Sunday.

The opening match will be played at Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium, with the second leg due to take place in Durban next week.

Ndlovu moved from Golden Arrows to Mamelodi Sundowns during the current transfer window. The match will therefore mark his first meeting with his former club since completing the move.

Jiyane believes that familiarity could benefit Golden Arrows, particularly because he knows Ndlovu’s qualities and understands the type of player he is. However, the defender also feels both teams have changed since the transfer, with new coaches and different tactical plans making it difficult for either side to predict exactly what the other will produce.

“We know each other with Ndlovu but we both have new coaches, he has new ones,” said Jiyane during the interview on Ukhozi FM.

“What we have done in the pre-season, he doesn’t know it. He may know Jiyane but there are new tactics he doesn’t know.

“I know Ndlovu what kind of a player he is, but he has also gotten a new coaching that is different from the one at Arrows.

“We know each other but not 100% because there’s new things that he’ll be surprised about, the same goes with him.”

Jiyane’s comments underline the uncertainty surrounding the first meeting between the clubs following Ndlovu’s transfer. While the former team-mates are familiar with one another, neither can rely entirely on previous knowledge because of the tactical changes implemented by their respective new coaching teams.

That gives Sunday’s contest an added element beyond the normal pressure of an MTN8 semi-final. Ndlovu will know the players he previously trained and played alongside at Golden Arrows, while Jiyane and his team-mates will understand aspects of his game. Yet both sides have prepared with different approaches during pre-season, meaning that old familiarity may not provide a complete guide to the match.

Golden Arrows and Mamelodi Sundowns will meet twice to determine which team progresses from the semi-final. The first leg in Pretoria on Sunday will be followed by the return fixture in Durban next week, where the tie will be decided.

The match will also provide Ndlovu with an immediate opportunity to face Golden Arrows after his move to Sundowns. For Jiyane, the challenge is to use what he knows about the forward while ensuring that Arrows are prepared for the changes made by Sundowns’ new coaching setup.

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