Peter Ndlovu

(April 26,2005) ZIMBABWE senior soccer team captain Peter Ndlovu, who has been under a barrage of criticism by the media in South Africa for failing to live to his billing as one of the top players in Africa seem to be regaining his form after he put Sundowns back on track for this year’s Premiership title in their 3-0 victory over Black Leopards at the Securicor Loftus Stadium on Sunday. Ndlovu, who joined South African Premiership side Mamelodi Sundowns in a record transfer from Sheffield United in August last year, has been labelled a flop by the South African sports journalists. They argue that he has failed to provide returns for the club that poured huge sums of money to snatch him from rivals Kaizer Chiefs who were leading the race for his signature.

Sunday’s goal brings Ndlovu’s goal tally to seven goals in the Premiership so far despite being played out of position. With a few games left before the South African Premiership ends, the Zimbabwean seems to be out to justify his status.

Ndlovu put up one of his finest performances on Sunday and scored one of the best goals that helped the Brazillians move to second position on the log with 49 points, three behind leaders Orlando Pirates.

Kaizer Chiefs are third on 46 points with a game in hand over Orlando Pirates.

Midfielder Godfrey Sapula and Siaka Tiene weighed in with the other goals with all of them coming in the second half of the match. But it was Ndlovu who created many scoring chances and had lady luck smiled on him, he could have scored a hat-trick.

Ndlovu put Sundowns ahead in the 59th minute when he fired the ball into the roof of the net after running onto a ball played over the Leopards defence. The Brazillians then made it 2-0 in the 63rd minute when midfielder Sapula played a brilliant one-two with striker Lerato Chabangu before putting the ball into the corner of the net.

Tiene also put his name on the scoresheet on 78 minutes with a superb strike from the edge of the area following a corner from Sapula.