Golden Arrows’ Jiyane set for Ndlovu reunion in MTN8 semi-final

Golden Arrows captain Ayanda Jiyane will face former teammate Siyanda Ndlovu when Abafana Bes’thende meet Mamelodi Sundowns in the MTN8 semi-final first leg on Sunday. The match will be played at Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium, with the return fixture set for Durban the following week.

Ndlovu moved from Arrows to Sundowns during the current transfer window. Sunday’s match will therefore be his first meeting with the club he left, placing Jiyane and the Arrows players against a footballer whose strengths and habits they know well.

Jiyane believes that knowledge can be useful, but he does not expect it to remove the uncertainty around the tie. Both teams have new coaches, and the tactical work completed during pre-season has changed what the players can anticipate from each other.

The Arrows captain knows Ndlovu’s qualities and playing style, but he also expects Sundowns’ new coaching setup to have added different instructions to the midfielder’s game. That means the former teammates may recognise one another without having a complete understanding of how the other side will approach the semi-final.

Jiyane’s assessment is that both teams will have elements that surprise the other. Arrows may know the player who has joined Sundowns, while Ndlovu will have some knowledge of his former teammates, but neither side has full access to the new tactical plans developed since the coaching changes.

The first leg gives Ndlovu an immediate test against familiar opposition, while Arrows begin their attempt to reach the next stage of the MTN8 with the tie split across two matches. The decisive second meeting will take place in Durban next week.