Former Mamelodi Sundowns striker Lungisani Ndlela has shared the reason for his unsuccessful stint at the club following his big move from SuperSport United, joining from Moroka Swallows in 2004.
Ndlela joined Sundowns in 2006 but left three years later when his contract expired.
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He spent those three seasons largely without playing, without going out on loan to seek more game-time.
In July 2009, Ndlela returned to Moroka Swallows on a free transfer after he was deemed surplus to requirements by Sundowns.
"It's not that I regret joining Mamelodi Sundowns, it's just that they wouldn't allow me to go out on loan when I was no longer getting game-time," Ndlela explained to KickOff.
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"You know how coaches are, they are hesitant to let a player leave because they fear that the player might perform well for another team. If that happens, the parent club will want answers from the coach.
"I asked questions while I was at Sundowns because I wanted to understand why I wasn't playing. I wanted to compete, not just train with the team and receive a paycheck every month.
"I wanted to know what I was lacking so I could work on it. I would ask Gordon Igesund about my situation.
"I played most of my games at Sundowns under him. He didn't play me and ignored offers from countries like Egypt, telling me not to leave because I'd be used in CAF matches."
