Gift Ndlovu and his Zenzeleni Primary School team may be out of the running for the Discovery Cup but the school’s leading marksman of the tournament possesses all the qualities of being a great striker.
The Pietermaritzburg-born Alex Real Madrid player banged six goals in the two-month long tournament to walk away as the tournament’s leading goal scorer.
In Grade 7 at present, Gift will attend KwaBhekilanga Secondary School next year. He started playing soccer at the age of seven at Super Stars and when asked how he got hooked on the beautiful game, Gift said he joined Super Stars so he could keep himself busy after school hours.
“I then fell in love with the game and I have never looked back,” said Gift, an avid fan of Orlando Pirates. “I intend to play soccer until I get to the Premier Soccer League, then to Bafana Bafana and even play overseas.”
Gift loves Alex’s son of the soil, Mpho Makola of Pirates. His play in the Discovery Alex U12 Schools League seamlessly resembles that of his Pirates hero, whom he often visits when Makola comes to the township just
to get some inspiration.
“Makola is an exciting and intelligent player who not only scores but also creates for others.” This speaks to Gift’s play as well as he had numerous assists scored by his captain Liyema Mgoma and others in the tournament.
Gift sights FC Barcelona and the club’s lethal marksman Lionel Messi as his top favourite international club and player, and hopes to emulate him one day.
Outside football, Gift, whose mother Phumelele is a marketing manager, dreams of being a medical doctor.
“I would like to do medicine after my matric as I have this thing in me to help other people suffering from various ailments.”
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