Player of the month, Nyandoro

Talk about a thorough professional and Esrom Nyandoro comes to mind. The man who toils ceaselessly in the midfield holding role of the champions elect was this week voted Mamelodi Sundowns Player of the Month.
Nyandoro, who has attracted the attention of several European teams, won R20 000 with Dillon Sheppard runner-up and taking home R15 000 while both central defenders Iron Mike Manzini and Benson Mhlongo received R10 000 each as their share for being second runners-up.
It was the second time that Nyandoro had won the prestigious club award since the start of what had been the toughest season that got underway in July last year when Sundowns annexed the Telkom Charity Cup.
Nyandoro edged out his peers following a sterling performance against SuperSport United when he came up with a rocket shot that knocked the stuffing out of their traditional rivals in the 87th minute of a game that appeared headed for a stalemate.
He followed that up with yet another sensational strike, this time against Classic after the Pietermaritzburg outfit had held on stubbornly throughout the first half and had taken a shock lead in the second half.
In-between Nyandoro had put up some excellent performances in the holding position to steady things up and set-up the front men while giving them back-up just in front of Mhlongo and Manzini.
Sheppard has also been in outstanding form since joining the club during the window period in January and came very close to snatching the honours but had to settle for runner-up position.
Sheppard left the country with the national squad on Tuesday to line-up against Lesotho at Maseru’s national stadium and will not play a role in the final league match against Orlando Pirates at Odi Stadium because he would be serving a suspension.
Meanwhile, although club president Patrice Motsepe expressed his condolences on behalf of Mamelodi Sundowns to the family and friends of Pule Ntsoelengoe, general manager Walter Kutumela was equally shattered by the untimely death of the maestro.
“I think South Africa has lost one of the greatest players ever,” said Kutumela. “He was a legend and I personally played against him for several years in both league and cup matches.
“It is so sad for someone so utterly gifted to go the way of the flesh at such an early age when so much was still expected of him. He was not only an exceptionally talented player, but was a very humble person as well.