Q&A session with Lucky ‘Killa’ Ndlela

Bantu Rovers. Check. Highlanders FC. Check. Bulawayo Chiefs. Check. NUST football team. Check. Check, check, check and check but you are not yet done. These are not the only check-boxes available as the lad we are profiling this week has globe-trot. Talk of South Africa, Nigeria and even Singapore. He has been there flying our flag high. Step in Lucky Ndlela and show them that surely football changes lives. We are a little bit obsessed with delivering news and profiles that takes and that is exactly why we tracked down the 25-year old footballer who happens to emerge as one of the vital cogs in the Thulani Sibanda’s machine.

Lucky Ndlela (in green apparel) leaves a defender for dead in a PSL match.

When was your first taste of football?

When I was 8 years old.

Talk us through your journey from the junior league up to the Premiership?

I started at Rays of Hope, a recreational centre when I was 10 years old then went to Njube Sundowns when I was 12. I played 1 season then I went to Highlanders from 2008 up to 2011 then left to join Bantu Rovers to play for their Division 1 and PSL squad. I then joined Bulawayo Chiefs Football Club in 2018 to date.

How was your experience playing for Zimbabwe U-17s abroad?

The experience was indescribably out of this world. Just the mere feeling of meeting new people and doing what I love the most in a foreign land was so surreal.

How does football impact lives?

Growing up in the ghetto where there can be no role models to speak of was quite an ordeal, you see peers even people younger than you being swallowed by bottles, parties an all sorts of immoral pleasures but because I had to go for training, football kept me away from all those bad habits as my availability was scarce to be caught up in those activities. So I guess that’s how it impacts on every ghetto child and if lucky enough, some make a fortune in football having them to be the ones that change their families for the better because of soccer.

Pre-match ball work for Killa. (Image credit: Byo Chiefs).

Growing up, who was your soccer idol both locally & abroad?

Desmond Maringwa who played for Dynamos FC and Andres Iniesta who played for FC Barcelona in Spain and currently plays for Vissel Kobe in Japan.

With the Covid-19 putting all sports-related activities on hold, what do you think the on-going campaigns should do? Do they carry on or consider the season as null & void?

We all know that this pandemic is beyond our control and prevention is always better than cure. I think continuing with sporting activities now will be a bad idea.

During this Covid-19 period, how have you been keeping physically, emotionally & mentally fit?

I engage myself in early morning runs, circuit training and a little bit of ball work.

CR7 or LM10 & why?

This one is a bit tricky and controversial. I like Cristiano Ronaldo because of the hard work and always pitching up when he is needed the most but I have to admit, Lionel Messi is the greatest in the world. He is a team player and he does whatever he does effortlessly.

Apart from your Singapore trip with the national Under-17s, what else have you achieved as a player and which nations have you been to?

I have quite a few accolades to myself and these include the:

Club player of the year in 2019

Most outstanding midfielder in 2019

Apart from my trip to Singapore with the Under 17 national team in 2010, I have been to South Africa and most recently Nigeria for a school project and that was in 2019.

KIlla in beast mode against a Herentals defender in a PSL fixture.

What’s the best advice you have been given from your coach?

“Where ever you are, always do/give your best because that’s where God wants you to be at that particular moment.”

Are you part of the NUST soccer team?

Not only am I part of it but I’m a coach there and also an intern at Bulawayo Chiefs as both team administrator and one of the developmental side assistant coach.

Shed light on your studies.

I’m a Sports Science and Coaching student at the National University of Science and Technology (NUST).

Give us your best XI team of all space and time.

Coach: Sir Alex Ferguson (Scotland)

Goalkeeper: Manuel Neuer (Germany)

Right Back: Daniel Alves (Brazil)

Left Back: Marcelo (Brazil)

Centre Back: Sergio Ramos (Spain)

Centre Back: Nemanja Vidic (Serbia)

Defensive Midfielder: Yaya Toure (Ivory Coast)

Central Attacking Midfielder: Andres Iniesta (Spain)

Central Attacking Midfielder: Lionel Messi (Argentina)

Left Forward: Leroy Sane (Germany)

Right Forward: Sadio Mane (Senegal)

Centre Forward: Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal)

Formation: 4-1-2-3

Captain: Andres Iniesta

Suppose this is your last day on earth, what would be your last meal?

Spaghetti with egg salad, goat meat and gravy.

Which 3 things would you take for your ideal vacation?

My mobile phone and a good paperback novel.

Any last words to upcoming footballers & sportsmen?

Football and sport in general is a short time career and sadly, not everyone is going to make to it to the big time. My message would be don’t abandon/shun school because of football. Always marry the two since they work out for the best if they go hand in hand.

Lucky Ndlela got his chance to speak to the world and so can you. How? Simply follow us and interact with us on our social media pages or alternatively call/text us and you never know, it might be your lucky day and you feature on our blog. So long folks. Catch you next time as we continue what we started.