Today in history Peter Ndlovu scores a hat trick to earn Coventry City a 2 – 3 win over Liverpool FC.
On March 14, 1995 Anfield witnessed the very best of Coventry City’s Zimbabwean star. The ‘Bulawayo Bullet’ fired his first ever hat-trick and became the first visiting player to manage a treble at the home of Liverpool FC in 30 years.
Ndlovu tapped in Dion Dublin’s shot-turned cross and scored a wonderful solo goal low to goalkeeper David James’ left in front of The Kop, either side of a well-taken penalty.
In the early 1990’s, the Zimbabwean national team had a squad dubbed the “Dream Team” who fans and pundits believed would earn the country a place at their first ever World Cup. This team was spearheaded by two brothers, Adam and Peter Ndlovu.
The latter of which is recognised as the first African to have played in the Premier League.
| Full name | Peter Ndlovu |
|---|---|
| D.O.B. | February 25, 1973 in Bulawayo |
| AKA | Bulawayo Bullet, Nuddy |
| Occupation | Footballer |
| Position | Striker |
| Teams | Highlanders FC – 1988–1990 Coventry City – 1991–1997 Birmingham City – 1997–2001 Sheffield United – 2001–2004 Mamelodi Sundowns – 2004–2008 Thanda Royal Zulu – 2008–2009 Highfield United – 2010 Black Mambas – 2011 |
The first black African player in the Premier League
Didier Drogba, Yaya Toure and Samuel Eto’o, amongst others, have all played in the Premier League, but Ndlovu was unmistakably the first. On August 19, 1992 Ndlovu became the first black African player in the Premier League when Conventry City met Tottenham Hotspur.
The 1991/92 season may have been Ndlovu’s first season in English football but it would also be the last for the old English league system. 1992 would see the introduction of the new English Premier League, with bells and whistles and an influx of money.
This monumental moment happened at White Hart Lane on 19th August 1992, when Ndlovu came on to replace John Williams in the 70th minute of Coventry’s away victory at Tottenham Hotspur.
His first three appearances of the 1992/93 season came from the bench, as a replacement for Williams, the world would have to wait until September for his first start. That came against Sheffield Wednesday on Match Day 6 and Ndlovu marked the occasion by netting his first Premier League goal.
