Chante Hohip2 December 2024 | 8:52

LISTEN: 'Hat-trick king' Pollen Ndlanya says today’s strikers lack confidence

“… the current strikers, they are so scared, they don’t want to take responsibility,” says retired footballer Pollen Ndlanya.

LISTEN: 'Hat-trick king' Pollen Ndlanya says today’s strikers lack confidence

Robert Marawa chats to retired footballer Pollen Ndlanya on 947.

The former top striker believes that many of today’s players lack the confidence to follow through in the net.

Ndlanya, who played for several local and international teams, made a name for himself in the late 1990s as a ‘hat-trick king’.

He holds the record for the most hat-tricks, being six. 

Having held onto that record for 27 years, he says the current generation of players are ‘scared’.

“I think it starts from training… you have to have confidence with the finishing… the current strikers, they are so scared, they don’t want to take responsibility.”
– Pollen Ndlanya, retired footballer

Ndlanya is also among the lucky few to have scored goals for both Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates.

He says it was a tough move due to the rivalry between the teams as well as the fans.

“It was a business move… It was not easy for me… but I am happy because I fulfilled my dream.”
– Pollen Ndlanya, retired footballer

While he may have retired from professional football, the former striker still plays an active role behind the scenes. 

Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the discussion