AmaZulu striker and Zimbabwe Warriors forward Thando Ngwenya has been tipped to become the next Knowledge Musona for Zimbabwe after making an impressive start to the new season.
Ngwenya has scored five goals in four games so far, underlining the attacking potential that AmaZulu coach Arthur Zwane believes could see the young striker reach the level of some of Zimbabwe’s greatest forwards.
Zwane believes Ngwenya has the qualities to become a major figure for the Warriors and has challenged him to emulate the likes of Musona, Khama Billiat and Peter Ndlovu.
“I want Ngwenya, when he goes to Zimbabwe, he should be treated like Knowledge Musona, like your Khama Billiat, like Peter Ndlovu,” Zwane said.
“Yeah, because he’s got that potential. As a striker, he can score. He’s got goals in him. You know, he’s not yet at his best right now because that injury took him out for a very long time.”
Ngwenya endured an injury-hit campaign last season, scoring six goals, but Zwane believes his tally could have been significantly higher had he remained fit.
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“Even though last season, I still say the six goals he scored, he knows he missed it. I don’t know how many ones he wants the keeper to beat last season. It could have been easily 15, 16 before he got injured,” Zwane said.
The AmaZulu coach also recalled an occasion when the demands of the South African league appeared to take a toll on the striker but praised Ngwenya for responding with determination.
“He’s a strong boy, he’s got a great attitude. He went in there, fought, even scored a goal,” Zwane said.
For Zwane, Ngwenya’s hunger and mentality are key ingredients in his development, with the coach insisting that the striker has the ability to reach the highest level.
“He reminds me, you know, he’s still young, but he’s going to get to the level of the Musonas. You know, so I’m his mentor, I’m his coach, I’m going to push him to that level,” he said.
Zwane believes the biggest priority now is keeping Ngwenya fit after his previous injury setback.
“The last thing that can happen to him is for him to get injuries. So right now, we need to make sure that we protect him and make sure that he’s forever fit,” Zwane said.
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