Orlando Pirates coach Fadlu Davids has reserved special praise for match winner, Siphesihle Ndlovu.

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The youngster clawed his way back into the Pirates team towards the end of the 2019/20 campaign, after initially struggling to adjust to life at the Buccaneers following his move from Maritzburg United.

There was even talk in the fraternity that the 23-year-old could be heading back to the Team of Choice, with game-time hard to come by.

However, Ndlovu managed to flip the script thanks to some fine performances for Josef Zinnbauer’s team in the PSL bio-bubble, helping the team qualify for the CAF Confederations League, thanks to their third-place finish.

The pint-sized midfielder continued his fine form for the Soweto giants, with his strike ensuring a first win for Pirates in the inaugural DStv Premiership over Bloemfontein Celtic.

Speaking to the media after the game, Pirates’ assistant coach Davids hailed Ndlovu’s resurgence in the team.

“It’s not easy when you are coming from a new club into a different environment and we saw towards the end of the bubble time where he got in the last three matches, three Man of the Match awards and continued with a Man of the Match in the first match of the new season,” Davids said speaking to the media.  

“But, it is a new season and there is competition in the team. Each and every player, not only Ndlovu should work hard to get a place in the team, that is number one, but then keep your place in the team and it is no different for him and every other player,” Davids concluded. 

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Pirates next take on arch-rivals Kaizer Chiefs in the second leg semi-final of the MTN8, with the Buccaneers in possession of a commanding 3-0 advantage heading into the tie.

Check out Pirates’ squad for the 2020/21 season: