A British record transfer bid is certainly a sign of admiration, but nothing compares to the love of your own supporters if you’re Peter Ndlovu.
The Zimbabwean became the Premier League’s first ever African player in 1991 which could have been a tough ask, but Coventry City welcomed him with open arms.
The Premier League’s first African fit right in wearing Sky BlueGettyJoining from Zimbabwe side Highlanders for just £10,000, the forward took no time at all to get to work, surprising even manager Bobby Gould.
“I didn’t know much about him at all when I first got there,” said Gould. “He was as quiet as a field mouse.
“But all of a sudden, when I saw him in training I thought, ‘My goodness, what have we got here?’ He came under the radar really.”
Ndlovu would go on to become an undoubted Premier League cult hero, scoring 34 goals and registering 13 assists in 154 games.
He did so for one of the division’s great entertainers in the free-flowing Sky Blues, making him all the more loved, even by neutrals.
Gould explained: “It’s always a bit difficult for African players to come and settle in but I think it was the way everyone loved him.
“It was a real love affair between him and the fans. He was a lovely young man who had come over with no airs and graces but just wanted to be successful. After a while he just blossomed.”
The love was certainly mutual too, as Ndlovu then turned down the chance to join Arsenal for £4million, which would’ve surpassed the £3.7m British record Manchester United paid Nottingham Forest for Roy Keane.
Remembering the interest, Ndlovu recalled: “Bobby Gould said, ‘Peter, Arsenal are knocking on the door for you,’ but, being a kid at the time, I replied, ‘Boss, I’m happy here.’ That was my focus.
“It was very special to be wanted by a big team like Arsenal, but I was already the darling of the crowd at Coventry and I wanted to give more back to the people who supported me.
Ndlovu turned down Arsenal and terrorised them with multiple teamsGetty One massive 3-0 win saw the Gunners cancel their trophy paradeGetty“There was talk of a £4million fee, which would have made me the most expensive player signed by an English club – it was a lot of money back then. You can see football has evolved. Money has gone crazy in terms of transfers.”
However, not only were Arsenal spurned by Ndlovu, but they were then embarrassed by him just weeks later.
On the opening day of the 1993/94 season, the attacker was unplayable, and helped teammate Micky Quinn to a hat-trick in a 3-0 victory.
So angry was Arsenal manager George Graham that he reportedly cancelled a planned victory lap of honour at the newly remodelled Highbury to celebrate the club’s FA Cup and League Cup titles the following season.
Ndlovu would later be sold to Birmingham in 1997.
Not quite for £4m but for a still hefty £1.7m, not just leaving Coventry with a decent transfer committee, but the memories of one of their most-loved and iconic players.
Ndlovu was one of Coventry’s most loved Read More Details
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