ZIMBABWE football legend Peter Ndlovu is currently enjoying the African champions’ status with South African side Mamelodi Sundowns.
BY MUNYARADZI MADZOKERE
But across the oceans, the club that gave him his first professional contract in the English Premier League, Coventry City, was recently relegated to the English Football League Two — the lowest division in the English football league system — for the first time in almost 60 years.
Ndlovu was snapped up by the Sky Blues from Bulawayo giants Highlanders back in 1991 as a fresh-faced teenager and went on to make 179 appearances for the club, scoring 39 times, including a memorable hat-trick against Liverpool at the fabled Anfield Stadium during the 1994-95 league season.
The former Highlanders teenage sensation said he was pained to see Coventry City sinking to the lower echelons of the English game.
“What’s happening to Coventry City is a painful issue for me my brother. Coventry is close to my heart because they gave me my first professional contract and I have some fond memories at the club during my time. It’s very sad to watch them sink like that,” Ndlovu told Sports World in an exclusive interview last week.
“I would really love to work for them and be part of their regrowth in terms of coming back into the English Premier league. I think they will come back up with a good set up; it’s been 15 years that Coventry have not been in the top flight but they are in the leagues; that can take them there. I believe they can still do it,” he added.
The most capped Warriors player of all time and also the country’s all-time leading scorer is currently the team manager at the eight-time South African champions Mamelodi Sundowns, who also won the Caf Champions’ League last year.
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Ndlovu spent 13 years in England during which he also played for Birmingham City, Huddersfield Town (on loan) and Sheffield United.
He expressed delight at the Huddersfield’s recent promotion into the top flight league for the first time since 1972 after the club beat Reading 4-3 on penalties in the championship play-off final last month.
“At least I am happy one team I played for is currently doing well. Huddersfield got promoted into the premier league and although I did not play for them for long I am happy for the team,” the 44-year-old legendary forward said.
Nsukuzonke, as he was popularly known by his legion of fans had a short loan stint at Huddersfield from Birmingham in 2001.
Meanwhile, he is enjoying his time at Sundowns as they bid to retain the Caf Champions League title after losing the SA championship to Bidvest Wits.
“I am enjoying my involvement at Sundowns, especially winning the Caf champions league. I think from here to stay at the top is very difficult and for us already we have lost the premier league and we are in the champions league, hopefully we can put our focus on it and make sure it doesn’t slip away,” he said.
Ndlovu says he has equipped himself for coaching but only that it’s not yet time to take that route.
He reiterated that he will always be involved in football one way or the other.
