Bafana striker shares his rags to riches story

“I had the chance to move to an academy of excellence as a 16-year-old but my mum had to hold me back as she didn’t want to be alone, while my brother was working in the mine on the outskirts of the township,” Ndlovu told Goal.com.

“I got another chance at Platinum Stars, they were having trials in my hometown (Klerksdorp), I went there and got selected for the second round of trials but I had to travel to Johannesburg. My mother had to lend the money to travel from a friend of hers.

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“I went to Johannesburg for three days with no money left, I got there and I didn’t have anywhere to sleep. I snuck into the train station and slept in the bathroom for three days. It was worth it because I got offered a contract to play in the Platinum Stars youth academy.”

Ndlovu, who plays for Qarabag in the Azerbaijan Premier League, is living a comfortable life with his family.

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“I hit rock bottom, I said to myself I need to really get my act together. My manager sat down with me and my family and said I should leave South Africa. I was in my comfort zone and it stopped me displaying my talent to my full potential.

“Bnei  Yehuda signed me after only two days on trial and I did really well in Israel. Maccabi Haifa then wanted me and got me for $1.5 million. The numbers that I saw in the contract at Maccabi Haifa were overwhelming, I couldn’t believe that in a year and a half, things went from rock bottom to come together.

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“I didn’t know who Qarabag were. They came in for me while I was in Cyprus. Antalyaspor and the Genclerbirligi from Turkey wanted me as well as a club in Greece. I wanted to win things instead of playing in mid-table so I went to Qarabag.

“Everyone in South Africa who plays football, you ask them what is your dream. They will tell you: ‘To play football in Europe in the Champions League and play for the national team.’ You can’t buy this feeling in the supermarket, you have to work for it. It is one of the best moments of my career.”