Chronicle Editor
Mehluli Sibanda, Sports Editor
ZIMBABWEAN football legend, Peter Ndlovu has been acknowledged for his contribution to the English Premier League.
The former Zimbabwe Warriors captain became the first African footballer to feature in England’s top league when he made his EPL debut on August 19 1992. Ndlovu joined Coventry City from Bulawayo giants, Highlanders in 1991. He had broken into the first Bosso first team as a 16-year-old when he was still at Mzilikazi High School.
He was originally spotted by FA Cup winning manager John Sillett, before Terry Butcher signed him from Highlanders in June 1991.
On Saturday, the EPL posted a video of Ndlovu dazzling through the Liverpool defence to score a goal for Coventry City on March 14 1995. The video is from the day that Ndlovu fired a hat-trick past David James in goals for the Reds. It was the first hat-trick by a visiting player at Anfield since 1961, as City earned a famous 3-2 win.
Ndlovu scored 43 times in 176 appearances for the Sky Blues between 1991 and 1997. “Peter Ndlovu will forever have the honour of being the Premier League’s first African player and goal scorer, as part of an exciting @Coventry_City side. We’re celebrating iconic players from around the world who’ve starred in the #PL as part of #BlackHistoryMonth,” posted the EPL in the message accompanying the video.
As part of the League’s celebration for the Black History Month, Ndlovu is being celebrated for his achievement. Black History Month is a yearly observance with its origins in the United States, where it is also known as African-American History Month. It started as a way of remembering important people and events in the history of the African diaspora.
Ndlovu, known to Zimbabweans as “Nsukuzonke” for scoring almost every time he donned the national colours, in England they called him the “Flying Elephant” for his blistering pace or simple “Nuddy” by the Coventry City fans.
The Zimbabwean legend paved the way for a long list of African footballers to play in the EPL, the most-followed league among the top six leagues in the world.
Didier Drogba, Kolo Toure, Yaya Toure, Benjani Mwaruwari, Marvelous Nakamba, Jordan Zemura, Samuel Eto’o, Finidi George, Emmanuel Adebayor, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Michael Essien, Nwankwo Kanu, Riyad Mahrez, Sadio Mane and Jay-Jay Okocha are the other African players who broke into the EPL after Ndlovu’s pioneering act of 1992. – @Mdawini_29
Online Reporter