Orlando Pirates midfielder Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo has named a Buccaneers and Mamelodi Sundowns legend as his childhood idol.
Ndlondlo joined Pirates at the start of the 2022/23 season as a Deadline Day signing from Marumo Gallants. Since his arrival, the versatile midfielder has made 45 appearances, registering three goals and three assists for the Sea Robbers.
Speaking exclusively to KickOff, Ndlondlo opened up about the influence of former Pirates talisman Teko Modise.
"I really looked up to Teko [Modise] when I was younger," Ndlondlo told KickOff.
"I think that's true for a lot of us or anyone who grew up around that time. Everything Teko did, the way he plays the game. The way he took control of matches no matter how big game is.
"That's the standard you want to have as a footballer you know.
"That encouraged me to aspire to be a footballer, and to see myself playing the way he did."
The prime Teko Modise at the new Orlando Stadium. ??????????Orlando Pirates dumela! pic.twitter.com/BLyU98Bxdd
— STAR. (@makwande_m) December 15, 2023
In a career that spanned over two dedicated, Modise established shelf as one of the greatest players South Africa has produced.
The attacking midfielder featured for Pirates between 2007 and 2011, a spell that won him many individual accolades including back-to-back PSL Footballer of the Season awards in 2008 and 2009.
Modise would leave the Buccaneers for Sundowns in the January transfer window in 2011, a spell that would earn two league titles and the 2016 CAF Champions League title.
Meanwhile Ndlondlo will be looking to continue establishing himself as a key player for Riveiro when the DStv Premiership resumes. The 28-year-old has already received plenty of praise from the Spanish mentor.
"I'm happy for the boy because it's not easy to arrive in a place like Pirates with this level of demand, or our own demand, how much we demand of ourselves every day," Riveiro told journalists in October 2022, when asked about Ndlondlo.
"I think he has been fantastic since he arrived. That's the reason we had confidence to play him in the starting XI.
"I don't think you [the media] discovered Ndlondlo today.
"He's a player who has really proved his value in the league and his capacity to play football. When you have a good structure and good players around, you can even look better.
Pirates take on Mamelodi Sundowns on Saturday at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday. Kick-off is at 20:00.
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