‘Helper’ set on helping his team win in Morocco
ALEXANDRA - The spotlight at the Danone Nations Cup world finals in Morocco in October will fall on Bree Primary School team's gifted goalkeeper, Mncedisi Nguse.
According to Mamelodi Sundowns scout, Mandla Mazibuko, the youngster will make a positive contribution to the team.
“Overall the team has pretty good players, but Mncedisi is one special keeper,” he said.
“He has pure, natural talent, and with great coaching and having him in a good development structure, I can see him playing for the national team one day.”
Nguse, whose name means helper, comes from a footballing family. “My older brother Njabulo Nguse, who is also a goalkeeper like me, is part of the Orlando Pirates development academy,” he said.
The youngster’s football career started in the streets of Soweto. It was while he was playing informally with his friends that he was approached by Nkosinathi Motlale, coach of Protea Glen FC, who recruited him into the team.
Then, at the beginning of this year at a friendly game between Protea Glen Stars and Mavi Stars, he was invited by school coach Bafana Dlamini to join Bree Primary School.
“They spoke to my grandmother, Lindiwe Nguse, who is my guardian, and told her how good a goalkeeper I am and that Bree Primary School would like to offer me a full scholarship,” Nguse said, who also dreams of becoming a lawyer.
“My grandmother knows how much I love soccer and how important it is to me, so she never hesitated in allowing me to change schools and attend Bree.”
He started at Bree in February this year and adjusted easily. “Bree is a very good school and since I started there my grades have improved a lot. I have made friends.”
When he heard that he would be going to Morocco, the first people Nguse told were his grandmother and brother.
“My gran is the most excited and also scared for me because she is scared of aeroplanes and flying,” said the beaming lad.
The school won the Danone Nations Cup in 2009, and the current team is hard at work preparing for this year’s cup.
Nguse added that he was also getting tips from his brother. “It helps that he is a goalkeeper as well, so we get to share ideas and he teaches me a lot about catching high balls and low balls, and how to distribute the ball,” Nguse concluded.
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