Cardoso explains why Ndlovu has a new role at Sundowns

Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso says Siyanda Ndlovu’s role in his side is determined by where the player believes he can perform best, rather than the position he occupied at Golden Arrows.

Ndlovu has made a positive start since moving to Sundowns during the off-season, scoring two goals and providing one assist in six appearances for The Brazilians.

The 22-year-old has mainly been deployed as a right winger by Cardoso, despite being used predominantly as a number 10 under former Golden Arrows coach Manqoba Mngqithi.

Cardoso said he discussed Ndlovu’s preferred position when he joined Sundowns, but insisted the focus was on finding where the player could make the greatest contribution within the team’s system.

“When he arrived and when it’s a player like (Deano) Van Rooyen, we don’t ask him where he wants to play, because the question is not where he wants to play, it’s where he feels he can be better in the positions we have in the pitch, that’s the question. Where do you think you can be better?” Cardoso told reporters at Loftus Versfeld Stadium.

The Portuguese coach said confidence and enjoyment were important factors in allowing a player to perform technically, particularly in the style of football Sundowns aim to play.

“So I don’t put a player in a position he does not feel confident in playing, because 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 with a lot of pleasure.”

Ndlovu indicated that he was comfortable operating on the right, although Cardoso had also been made aware of Mngqithi’s assessment that the player was suited to a central attacking role.

“He said ‘I can operate on the right’ and I said, ‘Hmm, okay’ but you remember coach Manqoba speaking about him as a number ten and we know he has the potential to play inside,” Cardoso said.

The former Esperance coach believes Ndlovu offers Sundowns flexibility because he can create space in different areas, while also being capable of taking on opponents both centrally and in wider positions.

“Obviously he’s a player that can open spaces but he narrows spaces, he can still dribble but in open space he can even dribble better,” he added.

Cardoso acknowledged that Ndlovu’s responsibilities at Sundowns differ from those he had at Golden Arrows, but said the player remains capable of performing both inside and outside.

“And the game that he used to play at Arrows is a little bit different from the game he has to play here but we know he is capable of playing inside and outside spaces,” he said.

“I think the analysis of coach Manqoba is absolutely correct. He can play both positions. So we will use him according to what the game asks.”