NHLAKANIPHO Ntuli is viewed as one of the most exciting talents to emerge from South Africa in years and the 18-year-old has been rewarded for his steady improvement with a call-up to the “reserve” Bafana Bafana squad for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Sudan and Nigeria.
The FC Twente attacking midfielder is no stranger to national team coach Shakes Mashaba, who has worked with him at U20 level, and says he has already realised a dream with his Bafana recognition.
Having joined the Dutch club earlier this year, he has made steady progress there and is now a regular with their reserve side.
“Everything is going well, I have got plus points from the training I have been doing there,” he told the Daily Dispatch. “I trained with the first team two weeks ago and I am in the starting line-up of the reserves, so I have settled in very well.”
He says Jan Zoutman, the reserve team coach at Twente, has also been very supportive.
“The trainer has really made me feel at home in Twente and I feel like he believes in me and that is important for me.”
He has recently been joined at the club by compatriot Kamohelo Mokotjo and says that has helped him settle.
“For him to be here is better for me, it is natural that someone from South Africa will be good for me, and we do catch up sometimes,” Ntuli says. “It’s not that we see each other that often because he is on one programme with the first team and I am on another, but it is definitely a good thing to have someone from home here.”
He admits to some surprise to his national team recognition but is determined to make the most of his opportunity.
“It is a great feeling and for me it does not matter that it is for the reserve players, to me it is just Bafana Bafana and to be in the squad is an honour,” he says.
“It is a big achievement, I would never have thought earlier in my life that when I was 18 I would be in the national set-up. It will be a great experience for me.”
With his reputation as a prodigious young talent, and the expectation that places on him, Ntuli says he is happy to take it all in his stride.
“In football there is always pressure, but every player needs to have confidence in themselves to be able to handle the pressure,” said Ntuli.
“From my side, I don’t feel it, all I am doing is work hard and when the time comes to represent my country, I must make sure I am ready.”
Ntuli to show Dutch courage for the Bafana
The FC Twente attacking midfielder is no stranger to national team coach Shakes Mashaba, who has worked with him at U20 level, and says he has already realised a dream with his Bafana recognition.
Having joined the Dutch club earlier this year, he has made steady progress there and is now a regular with their reserve side.
“Everything is going well, I have got plus points from the training I have been doing there,” he told the Daily Dispatch. “I trained with the first team two weeks ago and I am in the starting line-up of the reserves, so I have settled in very well.”
He says Jan Zoutman, the reserve team coach at Twente, has also been very supportive.
“The trainer has really made me feel at home in Twente and I feel like he believes in me and that is important for me.”
He has recently been joined at the club by compatriot Kamohelo Mokotjo and says that has helped him settle.
“For him to be here is better for me, it is natural that someone from South Africa will be good for me, and we do catch up sometimes,” Ntuli says. “It’s not that we see each other that often because he is on one programme with the first team and I am on another, but it is definitely a good thing to have someone from home here.”
He admits to some surprise to his national team recognition but is determined to make the most of his opportunity.
“It is a great feeling and for me it does not matter that it is for the reserve players, to me it is just Bafana Bafana and to be in the squad is an honour,” he says.
“It is a big achievement, I would never have thought earlier in my life that when I was 18 I would be in the national set-up. It will be a great experience for me.”
With his reputation as a prodigious young talent, and the expectation that places on him, Ntuli says he is happy to take it all in his stride.
“In football there is always pressure, but every player needs to have confidence in themselves to be able to handle the pressure,” said Ntuli.
“From my side, I don’t feel it, all I am doing is work hard and when the time comes to represent my country, I must make sure I am ready.”
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