Lungelo Nguse made his DStv Premiership debut during the 2019/20 season, as a promising young striker for Baroka FC. After spending three years in the lower ranks, the 24-year-old is back in top-flight football and this time in the colours of Golden Arrows. The man nicknamed "Mbesuma" has already scored four goals this season and is one of the reasons coach Mabhudi Khenyeza's side has picked up 20 points from a possible 27 in the league. In this interview with Soccer Laduma's Zola Doda, Nguse talks about his journey to the elite division, comparison with former Kaizer Chiefs striker Collins Mbesuma and why there are more goals to come from him this season.
Zola Doda: Lungelo, thanks a lot for taking time to talk to Soccer Laduma readers.
Lungelo Nguse: Thanks a lot.
ZD: How are things going for you since joining Golden Arrows at the beginning of the season?
LN: For now, things are good, I can't complain about anything. Personally, I think I started this season well because I come from the NFD (National First Division, officially known as Motsepe Foundation Championship) without a lot of professional experience. I also got a lot of help from teammates like Ryan Moon and Knox Mutizwa, who have been helpful in helping me settle down. Our coach, Mabhudi Khenyeza, is also a former striker and that has contributed a lot as well because he understands what me and other strikers are going through.
ZD: You made your PSL debut at Baroka FC during the 2019/20 season and didn't play that much. Was there a lot of pressure on you?
LN: I come from Vryheid and I didn't play that much in the SAB League because I was still at school. From there, I went to Eastern Cape to join Bizana Pondo Chiefs and I scored 24 goals. I went to Baroka FC and I needed more time to adjust to a professional level and to learn as a striker about how to play. I played three matches for Baroka FC during the 2020 COVID-19 bubble and I moved on loan to TS Sporting. From there, I went back to Pondo Chiefs, so I didn't play that much in the PSL. It's not that there was pressure, I didn't get any chance to play games and get used to the PSL level.
ZD: How has your game changed since 2019/20 season, when you made your professional debut as a 20-year-old?
LN: It's just the way I think and approach the game. I used to get very nervous before. In 2019, we played against Orlando Pirates and I was so nervous playing against a team I used to watch on TV. And you must remember that I came from lower division and being young as well, I was really nervous. But now I know that I have to do my job without thinking about who I will be playing against. The way I play has improved… and finishing. I will keep pushing and hopefully reach the heights reached by Collins Mbesuma.
ZD: So, how did you join Golden Arrows? How did the move come about?
LN: There was a tournament called Khaba Cup which was played in Umlazi during the off-season… I think it was played in June if I'm not mistaken. That's where the team spotted me. We were playing a final and there was coach Vusumuzi Vilakazi and coach Vusi Mthembu – both of them were there and invited me to come to the team for a trial at Golden Arrows. Fortunately, the chairman of my former team at Pondo Chiefs is also my manager. He told me that there would be opportunities because other clubs, like Arrows and Richards Bay FC, would be watching the tournament, and if I played well there would be a chance of getting spotted. That is exactly what happened.
ZD: What is the difference between playing in the Motsepe Foundation Championship and in the DStv Premiership?
LN: There is not much of a difference. In the Motsepe Foundation, the tempo is high and they are using a lot of physical strength. In the PSL, it's all about marking spaces and the way to defend is completely different. In the PSL, you can also walk or just pass the ball around, whereas in the Motsepe Foundation you must run for 90 minutes. But it's not that much (of a difference).
ZD: You have scored four goals so far, which is a good start. Did you expect that?
LN: When this season started, my aim was to improve a few things in my game here and there, but I didn't expect to play as much as I have so far. It's those guys who have been pushing me to work hard. The first match I started, against Polokwane City, I managed to score and my confidence went up. In my next match against SuperSport United, I scored my second goal. By that time my teammates already knew where to play the ball and what I would do if I had the ball inside the box. They trusted me and I understood that if they pass me a ball inside the box, I would score. Even the coaches encouraged me to take shots because they could see what my strength was. Against Cape Town Spurs, I scored a brace when I was coming back from injury. I started that match from the bench and I was unfit. In the second half, the coach said, "Mbesuma, go in" and he knew that we were creating chances and if I had a chance, I would score. And I'm sure that there are more goals to come.
ZD: Like you mentioned, your coach was a prolific striker during his days as a player. What does it mean to have a former marksman as a coach?
LN: It does help a lot because in most of the games I've played, when I get a chance, I score. He is someone who pushes me to score and is telling me that even if it's a half a chance, I have to score. I did watch some of his matches as a player, how he plays. He teaches me a lot of things and the need to fight. When we were not creating enough chances, he taught me about how to fight for the team and make things happen. With finishing, spaces and movements around the box, he helps me a lot. He once told me that I remind him of himself when he was young with the way I play. I think things will go well for us this season.
ZD: Abafana Bes'thende are second on the log behind leaders Mamelodi Sundowns and have progressed to the quarter-finals of the Carling Knockout. What do you attribute that to?
LN: When you watch our games, you can see that we are all playing for each other. We defend as a team and attack as a team. It's all about hard work. When we play against bigger teams, we know that if we score one goal, we will defend and hit them on counter-attacks. That is what has helped us to be in the position we are in.
ZD: This week, you have a KZN Derby against AmaZulu FC in the cup. How do you see the game playing out?
LN: There are five or six players in our team who have never played in a derby or big matches. Yes, there will be pressure, but some guys who have experience, like (Nduduzo) Sibiya and (Velemseni) Ndwandwe. I know that they will help us to be relaxed and play the football we know so that we can progress to the semi-final.
ZD: So far, which team has been your toughest opponents in the league?
LN: I can say Mamelodi Sundowns were the toughest opponents so far. We played against them and I came on in the second half when the score was already 3-0, and the final score was 4-0. I didn't know what to do because they were just passing the ball around. We tried to press them and they made three or four changes in the second half. It was my first time playing against them and they were just passing the ball and I was so frustrated not knowing what to do. If I tried to hold the ball, they would press with two to three players and win it back. We couldn't finish 15 passes, they pressed. But when we tried to press them, they were able to keep the ball. It was really difficult, but we learn. After that, we played against Polokwane City and we managed to bring back our confidence and since then we have never lost another game. That match against Polokwane City was my best because before that, I was always coming in as a substitute. That was my first start of the season and everything went well. We were playing as a team and I was taking shots. Gladwin Shitolo passed me the ball and played a one-two with Angelo van Rooi and scored. In the match against Cape Town Spurs, I was restricted because I was coming back from injury.
ZD: How do they feel at home now that you are playing and making an impact?
LN: They are very happy. My mother is the one who is happy the most because she knows all about the difficulties I went through from the previous teams I played for. We used to talk a lot. She knows all about my hardships. But even my brothers were so supportive. The first time I left home to join Baroka, it was really difficult because I was still young, but I managed to make friends with other players in the team. I'm not someone who likes to talk and that will always make things difficult in terms of adjusting. I didn't know anyone in Limpopo and most people can't speak IsiZulu. It was really hard to adjust. But now my family is happy to see me playing and doing well and hopefully in December, if we reach the Carling Knockout final, they will attend the match. We need to go to the final. I just wish that our supporters can come out and support us this weekend against AmaZulu and we promise them that we will progress to the semi-finals.
ZD: Lungelo, great progress so far. Thanks a lot and all the best.
LN: Thanks. We will do our best.
LUNGELO NGUSE FACT FILE
Date of birth: 11 January 1999
Place of birth: Vryheid, KwaZulu-Natal
Nickname: Mbesuma/Ntofontofo
Position: Striker
Jersey number: 40
Club: Golden Arrows
Previous club: University of Pretoria, Baroka FC, TS Sporting (on loan), Bizana Pondo Chiefs
Honours: None
