Nduga picks up the pieces at Orapa
Chakalisa Dube | Friday February 14, 2020 12:20
Nduga joined Sharps Shooting Stars in June 2018 from Nkwazi FC of Zambia.
He did not take long to adjust to life in the Premiership, scoring key goals and providing several assists. But misery came knocking while he was at Sharps.
The club started experiencing financial problems and his salary went unpaid for months.
At one point he posted on social media saying that he was starving and had been kicked out of the house by his landlord because the club had not paid his rental.
Nduga’s contract was then, reluctantly terminated by Sharps. But as fate would have it, the player has found a new lease of life after making the switch to Orapa United last July.
After a slow start in Orapa, Nduga is beginning to show the quality he displayed during his early days at Sharps.
Since the beginning of the year, the Ugandan has scored three goals out of four games. Two of the three goals came in both legs of the Mascom Top 8 semi-final clashes against Jwaneng Galaxy. The other strike came in a league encounter.
Nduga has featured in 15 games in all competitions for United this season, where he has chipped in with six assists. “The first few months after joining the club were not easy, but I kept on working hard. My hard work is slowly paying off. I am starting to score goals now, which is very important for me.
The players and members of the technical team have also been very supportive of me,” he said. “The club is looking after me very well. I really can’t complain. I have started enjoying my football again.
What happened at Sharps made me stronger. It was a really sad situation,” Nduga added.
Nduga said his main ambition is to earn a recall to his country’s national team and go back to Europe to further his career.
However, he would not mind playing in the South African Premiership. An injury in 2017 slowed down his progress and he has not been part of the national since then.
“I am still young and ambitious.
I have got no doubt that if I keep on working hard I will earn a national team call up and attract suitors from established leagues abroad,” he said.
Nduga had stints in Dubai and Turkey, amongst others. Orapa United coach, Mogomotsi Mpote believes fans will soon see the best of Nduga.
“His confidence is now back. He is a quality player. He is a national team material. People will soon see him at his very best because his form is also coming back. He is also a humble chap,” Mpote said.