Online Reporter
Zimpapers Sports Hub
ZIMBABWE international Thandolwenkosi Ngwenya has reportedly received death threats following the challenge that injured Orlando Pirates midfielder Sihle Nduli during AmaZulu’s 1-1 draw with the Buccaneers at Kings Park on Wednesday.
A source close to Ngwenya said the 23-year-old forward had been subjected to threatening and abusive messages on social media after the incident.
The source, however, said Ngwenya had not intended to injure Nduli and was disturbed by the nature of some of the messages directed at him.
“Ngwenya has been receiving death threats on social media after the incident. But he had no intentions against Nduli,” said the source.
Ngwenya caught Nduli on the ankle with a late challenge shortly after the restart and was shown a yellow card.
The Pirates midfielder received treatment before being replaced, just 10 minutes into the second half.
Nduli was making his first start of the new season after recovering from an Achilles tendon injury suffered in November last year.
The full extent of his latest injury has not yet been confirmed by Pirates.
AmaZulu coach Arthur Zwane admitted his striker could have handled the situation better and wished Nduli a speedy recovery.
“Nduli, man, I don’t like seeing a player coming back from a long-term injury only to get injured again,” said Zwane.
“He is such a talent, and it is unfortunate to see him injured again. Our player could have done much better in that situation. I wish him a speedy recovery.”
The controversy overshadowed another decisive contribution from Ngwenya, who converted AmaZulu’s penalty in first-half stoppage time to cancel out Tshepang Moremi’s seventh-minute opener.
Ngwenya must take these threats seriously. South Africans don’t normally joke. When they target you, they carry out the threat. Killing people is a hobby in that country, stats are there to confirm that. Worse still Ngwenya is a foreigner. He makes a perfect target for contract killing. His coach’s comments don’t seem to help the situation as well.