Who has worn the No. 11 jersey at Mamelodi Sundowns in the past decade? It is fair to say some players have done so with pride, others not so much, writes Nick Said.
Marcelo Allende has been a crucial player for Mamelodi Sundowns in the No.11 jersey in the past few seasons and remains a key figure under coach Miguel Cardoso.
The number has been a little ‘hit and miss’ in the last two decades though, with some players who were expected to shine, not rising to the occasion.
MANQOBA NGWENYA
A winger or attacking midfielder, Ngwenya joined Sundowns in 2003 from Wits University and took the No.11. He would spend seven years at Chloorkop but was in and out of the side and never quite managed to cement a regular starting place. He scored 14 goals in 37 starts in all that time, having been used mostly off the bench. He later moved to Thanda Royal Zulu.
LUYOLO NOMANDELA
Nomandela had just a single season at Sundowns in 2014/15 having arrived from Free State Stars but never managed to settle. He made only two sub-appearances and had loan spells with Moroka Swallows and Jomo Cosmos, before he was released in 2016. He continued his nomadic career with short spells at Cape Town City, Mthatha Bucks, Tornado FC and Chippa United.
RICHARD HENYEKANE
The late Henyekane arrived at Sundowns from Lamontville Golden Arrows in 2010 and would spend four seasons at the club. He had been No.23 at Abafana Bes’thende but took No.11 on his arrival in Pretoria. He also battled to nail down a regular spot with just 26 starts in four seasons, which resulted in 11 goals. He left for Free State Stars midway through the 2013/14 season, where he stayed until his death in a car accident at the age of 31 on 7 April 2015.
SIBUSISO VILAKAZI
Vilakazi took over the No.11 from Ngele when they swapped clubs in 2016/17, with the former joining Sundowns on a permanent deal and the latter heading in the other direction on loan. Vilakazi spent six seasons at Sundowns, but only the first four in the number 11 jersey before he switched to 24. He made 97 starts and scored 29 goals in a spell that be fair was blighted by injury which kept him sidelined.
MOGAKOLODI NGELE
Ngele had been a key player at Platinum Stars before he arrived at Chloorkop in the 2015/16 season. He was given the number 11, but again it did not work out for him, with two goals in five starts (and nine sub appearances). He was sent on loan to BidVest Wits and played a role in their 2016/17 title winning campaign under Gavin Hunt, but when he returned to Sundowns could not break into the side again.
KERMIT ERASMUS
Erasmus arrived at Sundowns from Cape Town City in 2020/21, having scored regularly for the latter and targeted 30 goals in his first season at Chloorkop. He scored six. It was never quite the right fit and in two seasons at Sundowns he managed 20 starts and scored 11 goals. But spent a lot of the time on the bench or the sidelines. When he left the club at the end of the 2022/23 season, Allende took over his No.11.
