Sundowns boss Cardoso backs Ndlovu to excel on wing or as number 10

Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso believes Siyanda Ndlovu can have a significant influence in two attacking roles as the 22-year-old continues to settle at the club.

Ndlovu joined Sundowns from Golden Arrows during the off-season and has made an encouraging start to life with the club. He has scored two goals and provided an assist in his past two appearances.

Although Ndlovu has said he is most comfortable playing on the right wing, Cardoso insists the key consideration is where the player feels able to make his greatest contribution to the team.

“I didn’t say I like him on the right, I said he likes it more on the right, it was very clear what I said – when he arrived, and for example a player like van Rooyen, we don’t ask him where he wants to play, because that’s not the question,” Cardoso said.

“It’s where he feels he can be better in the positions we have on our pitch – where do you think you can be better? So I don’t put the player in a position that he doesn’t feel confident to play.

“The first thing that can make a player express himself technically inside the pitch, is that he has joy to play, especially at Sundowns. The way we play must be played with a lot of pleasure.

“So the question is always: where do you feel you can help us more?”

Cardoso said Ndlovu had identified the right flank as his preferred area, but added that the midfielder also possesses the qualities required to play in a central role.

“He said, open on the right, I said, ‘uhm, okay’. Remember coach Manqoba speaking about him as a number 10,” he added.

“We know he has potential to play inside. He’s a player that can open spaces but in narrow spaces, he can still dribble, but in open spaces, he’s even better.

“The game he used to play at Arrows is a little different than the game he has to play here, but we know what he’s capable of playing inside and outside spaces.

“I think the analysis of Coach Manqoba is absolutely correct, he can play both positions.”

Ndlovu’s latest performances indicate that he is adapting to the demands of Sundowns, while his ability to operate both wide and centrally could provide Cardoso with an additional attacking option as the season develops.

The former Golden Arrows player’s recent return of two goals and an assist across two matches has helped him establish himself at Sundowns, with Cardoso maintaining that confidence and enjoyment will be central to his continued development.