DURBAN – Cape Town City coach Benni McCarthy predicts a brighter future for his star midfielder Thabo Nodada.
The KwaZulu-Natal-born midfielder’s contributions earned him a Bafana Bafana call-up for the back-to-back Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Seychelles.
McCarthy believes that Nodada is destined for Europe.
“There’s something about these Zulu boys. Their mentality and work ethic is second to none. He’s got talent, but he works effortlessly,” McCarthy said after his side’s 0-0 stalemate against Maritzburg United in Pietermaritzburg on Friday.
“When you put in that amount of work to improve yourself and better yourself, the only way is up. No one can be able to keep a player like that down.”
Nodada helped City lift the MTN8 last week against SuperSport United with a top-class performance.
“Nodada is a very intelligent boy. He knows what he wants. He always asks me a lot of questions, which is tiring. But it shows. His performances speak volumes.
“I don’t mind answering the questions he always asks me because he always want to improve himself.
“He wants to work on every aspect of his game. He works on his weaknesses and strengths,” said McCarthy, the only South African to win the Uefa Champions League.
“Believe you me, the kid is not going to play in South Africa for so long. He will go abroad because he is one South African player I can vouch for to make it in Europe.”
Nodada will compete with the likes of Hlompho Kekana, Kamohelo Mokotjo and Dean Furman in the middle of the park for Bafana.
“I’m delighted for him to get the Bafana call-up, but maybe it’s a little late because the likes of him and Siphesihle Ndlovu have been on form since the end of last year,” McCarthy concluded.
OH MY GOD🙆🏽♂️😭😬😂🕺🏽🕺🏽🕺🏽 pic.twitter.com/FOzYCvQ5iQ
— Thabo Nodada (@ThaboNodada26) October 1, 2018
Meanwhile, Siphesihle Ndlovu was the talk of the town last season, but life hasn’t been the same for Maritzburg United’s midfield kingpin this season.
He has struggled to replicate the brilliance of last term which saw him scoop the Midfielder of the Season and the Young Player of the Season awards.
His coach, Fadlu Davids, has defended his slow start to the new season.
“The timing of the red card was really unfortunate. He missed five-and-a-half weeks of football, and now to play two games in one week, it is really tough after not playing competitive football.
“Friendlies are one thing, but playing at PSL level is another story altogether. The AmaZulu game was really intense and physical,” Davids said after Friday’s draw.
Ndlovu was given his marching orders against Kaizer Chiefs at Harry Gwala in a league match. He missed two games because of suspension. Ndlovu didn’t feature against Bidvest Wits and Bloemfontein Celtic.
He returned on Tuesday as they earned an away point against AmaZulu at King Zwelithini Stadium in Umlazi.
“These two games will help him to get into the match rhythm. We definitely have to look to get his rhythm in the next two weeks. We want him to get to his stride once again. These two weeks will definitely help him,” he added.
Ndlovu has played five games in the league and one in the MTN8. He is yet to make an assist.
It has been reported that United have agreed in principle to sell him to Mamelodi Sundowns next season.
@Minenhlecr7