‘Those words actually pushed me’: Ndlovu answers doubters after Sundowns MTN8 triumph

Mamelodi Sundowns winger Siyanda ‘Skhwishi’ Ndlovu says doubts over his ability to establish himself at Chloorkop have motivated him to compete for his place after helping the club lift the MTN8 trophy.

Ndlovu came off the bench in the second half of Sundowns’ 2-0 victory over Orlando Pirates at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday and immediately looked dangerous, winning the stoppage-time penalty that Iqraam Rayners converted to seal the win.

For Ndlovu, the triumph was particularly satisfying as it marked his second trophy with Sundowns and his first taste of MTN8 success.

“I’m very happy to have won my second trophy for the club but more than anything, I hadn’t played the MTN8 before this season so my one wish was to win it as soon as I played the competition so I’m glad that’s happened now,” he told the media.

The winger’s move to Sundowns was among the most high-profile and talked-about transfers, particularly after he appeared destined to join Pirates before a late change of direction took him to Chloorkop.

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His decision to join an already star-studded Sundowns squad prompted questions over whether he would receive regular playing time amid competition from established attacking players.

Rather than being discouraged by the criticism, Ndlovu says it gave him an extra incentive to prove himself.

“Those remarks actually pushed me, the fact that I’m coming into a team that has quality players means I must compete to be able to claim my position so those that made those remarks actually helped me,” he said.

The 23-year-old has also credited his previous experience at Golden Arrows for helping him settle into life at Sundowns, pointing to the similarities in playing style under former Arrows coach Manqoba Mngqithi.

The year of Mamelodi Sundowns 🏆🏆🏆

They have two more trophies to compete for in 2026 🔥

#SSDiski | #MTN8 https://t.co/bmtET1z1xK

— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) October 11, 2026

“In terms of adjusting, I think it was easy for me because the kind of football we play here is similar to how we played at Golden Arrows under coach Manqoba Mngqithi so they made the transition easier,” he added.

Ndlovu’s impact against Pirates offered a glimpse of the threat he can provide from the bench, with his direct running and willingness to take on defenders helping Sundowns maintain their attacking threat before he won the penalty that sealed the result.

His contribution came on a night when Sundowns claimed their fifth MTN8 title and denied Pirates a historic fifth consecutive triumph.

For Ndlovu, the challenge now is to turn such influential cameos into consistent performances and force his way into a starting role as Sundowns continue their pursuit of silverware on multiple fronts.