Highly rated Richards Bay striker Somila Ntsundwana is brimming with optimism, feeling now that he’s settled in the GladAfrica Championship he can finally reach his full potential.
Last season Ntsundwana was on loan at Bay from Premiership side AmaZulu. Bay decided to make the move permanent last month. The 24-year-old from Motherwell in Eastern Cape is targeting 12 goals in the first round of the season.
“This season, I think I know more about this league [in the 2019/20 season he was on loan at Royal Eagles from Usuthu] and I am no longer on loan, I am permanent at the club [Bay] now. Being permanent comes with that stability and I believe that will help me a lot in terms of fulfilling my potential,’’ Ntsundwana told Sowetan yesterday.
“I want to score goals and now I am in a better space since I am no longer on loan. My target is 12 goals in the first half of the season, then we’ll see in the second round.”
Two of Bay’s top performers from last season, Khanyisa Mayo and Austin Dube, were snatched up by big guns Cape Town City and Kaizer Chiefs. Ntsundwana views his former teammates’ lucrative transfers to the big league as a huge motivation for him and other Bay players.
“There’s a saying that says ‘congratulate others while you're still waiting for your chance’. The guys [Mayo and Dube] deserve to be there. It shows that when you do well there’s a reward. Seeing the gents going to [the] Premiership was motivating. If they can do it we can also do it,’’ said the Bay marksman.
The former Usuthu man is likely to lead Bay’s attack when they visit former top division side Jomo Cosmos in their first game of the season at Tsakane Stadium on Sunday (3pm).
“I want to help the team win promotion. Against Cosmos we’ve prepared to be mentally strong. Winning the game against Cosmos would mean our preseason was a success,’’ noted Ntsundwana.
Fixtures (all at 3pm)
Tomorrow: Leopards v Polokwane, Old Peter Mokaba Stadium; Lions v Uthongathi, Sivos Training Centre Stadium; JDR v AmaTuks, Giant Stadium; Tshakhuma v All Stars, Thohoyandou Stadium; Sporting v Callies, Kabokweni Stadium
Sunday: Spurs v Venda Academy, Athlone Stadium; FS Stars v Rovers, Goble Park; Cosmos v Bay, Tsakane Stadium
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