AmaZulu's Thandolwenkosi Ngwenya Receives Death Threats After Sihle Nduli Injury

• AmaZulu forward Thandolwenkosi Ngwenya faced a wave of threatening messages online following a challenge on Orlando Pirates midfielder Sihle Nduli
• Nduli was substituted just 10 minutes into the second half after receiving medical attention, raising fears of another lengthy injury absence
• AmaZulu coach Arthur Zwane acknowledged that Ngwenya could have approached the challenge differently but also expressed sympathy for Nduli

AmaZulu forward Thandolwenkosi Ngwenya has become the target of death threats on social media following a challenge that left Orlando Pirates midfielder Sihle Nduli injured during Wednesday night's Betway Premiership fixture at Kings Park.

The match ended 1-1, but the post-match conversation was dominated by the late challenge Ngwenya made on Nduli shortly after half-time, catching the Pirates midfielder around the ankle. The referee issued Ngwenya a yellow card for the foul.

A source close to the 23-year-old told iHarare that the AmaZulu striker had received a stream of abusive and threatening messages since the game.

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"Ngwenya has been receiving death threats on social media after the incident. But he had no intentions against Nduli," the source said.

Nduli suffers setback on return

The timing of the injury made it particularly difficult for Nduli and Pirates supporters. The midfielder had only recently returned to action after an Achilles tendon injury suffered in November last year, and Wednesday's match marked his first start of the new season. Concerns have since emerged about the possibility of another extended period on the sidelines after he was substituted just 10 minutes into the second half following medical attention on the pitch.

AmaZulu head coach Arthur Zwane commented on the incident after the final whistle, acknowledging that Ngwenya could have handled the challenge differently. He also expressed sympathy for Nduli, saying it was particularly hard to watch a player return from a serious injury only to be sidelined again so quickly. Zwane described Nduli as a talented player and wished him a swift recovery.

Ngwenya scored before the controversy

Before the challenge became the talking point of the evening, Ngwenya had played a key role in AmaZulu's result. With his side trailing after Tshepang Moremi opened the scoring for Orlando Pirates in the seventh minute, Ngwenya stepped up to take a penalty in first-half stoppage time and converted to bring AmaZulu level.

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The 1-1 scoreline stood at full-time, but the focus after the final whistle had shifted firmly to the Ngwenya-Nduli incident and the threats that followed.

Source: Briefly News