First Division taught me what to expect: Sandile 'Sgubhu' Gumede November 16, 2009 AmaZulu marksman Sandile 'Sgubhu' Gumede believes the ‘School of Hard Knocks’ – the first division - was the perfect place for him to learn his trade. Only the strongest survive in the first division and ‘Sgubhu’ is one of the relatively few players who has made the transition to the Absa Premiership, along the way using his experience in the lower ranks to make him a more focused player.

“It’s not easy at all in the first division. In the PSL you do get space to play, but in the first division they give you a hard time by marking you tightly.

“I learned a lot there and one of the things that I enjoyed about the first division is that it taught to me what to expect in professional football, “said Gumede.

The Empangeni-born striker has worked with a lot of experienced coaches already in his career; having been trained by Mlungisi Professor Ngubane at Nathi Lions.

Gumede says Ngubane is the one who motivated him into playing his natural game and through Ngubane's guidance, he was the leading goal scorer at the club.



Now at Usuthu, Gumede is looking to the team’s senior players for inspiration and assistance.

“I’ve been getting good support at AmaZulu - the guys tell me not to rush things. Thabos (Dumisani Ngwenya) and I visit each other and he has been telling me where to improve, and that has made things a lot easier for me.”

Following some promising performances in the early stages of the season, injuries have however put a downer on Gumede’s budding professional career.

“It is disturbing to be getting injured all the time because the chance to play slips away and you miss a lot of games, whilst your fitness level goes down.

“My wish for this season is to do well. Though there is still that thing that I’m new, but as a personal ambition, I’d like to get a few goals whilst I’m still fresh,” said the burly striker.

With the right kind of mentoring from the likes of experienced former feared goal poacher Calvin Petersen amongst others, Sandile should be able to shine when he gets his chance to play.

“He is a big and strong player, when he played against Nathi Lions last season we thought he was a special talent. There is an ability in him that we recognised and he is certainly one for the future”, said head coach Neil Tovey.

Gumede has played for various clubs, including Leomat Rangers in second division, before he represented Thukela FC of Ladysmith.

Competition is rife in all departments at the moment in the squad and it will take commitment for the 24 year old to earn a start after shaking off the calf strain that has kept him from training for weeks - hopefully for the former first division star, he will be fit for this Fridays’ trip to Bidvest Wits.