Premier League legend with 13 youngsters moaned he could not afford youngster upkeep
A Premier League legend with 13 kids pleaded that he couldn’t afford to pay child maintanence to the mother of two children he was unaware he was the father of
Peter Ndlovu played in the Premier League for Coventry City(Image: Bob Thomas/Getty Images)
Former Premier League star Peter Ndlovu pleaded to a court that he can’t afford to pay child maintenance for two of his 13 children.
Ndlovu, who celebrated his 53rd birthday last week, had maintenance proceedings brought against him in 2016 by the mother of two children he was unaware of. That woman was seeking a monthly payment of £1,420 from the former Coventry City, Birmingham City and Sheffield United striker.
A report by The Sun in 2023 said that a Johannesburg High Court ruled the retired player should pay her £568 a month regardless of the pleas that he already pays child maintenance for his 11 other children born through several other romances.
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He told the court: “I have 13 children, including the two children I have with the first respondent. I’m obliged to contribute and see to the maintenance needs of all 13 of my children.
“As a result of these encounters, two minor children were born between the respondent and me. I was not informed by the respondent about the pregnancies or the subsequent births of our children.
“The last I heard of the children was when she instituted maintenance proceedings against me in 2016. There is no communication between the respondent and me. We share no relationship and there is no contact between us.”
Ndlovu played as a striker for Coventry City, Birmingham City, Huddersfield Town and Sheffield United during his 13-year stay in England, scoring 37 goals in the English top flight during that time.
He also netted 38 times in 100 appearances for Zimbabwe before hanging up his boots in 2011, shortly after becoming the assistant manager of his nation.
Ndlovu left that role when he was appointed by Mamelodi Sundowns, for whom he played between 2004 and 2008. He managed the South African club between 2013 and 2015.
He was also in the headlines that year as he faced trial for culpable homicide following a car crash in which his brother Adam and a female passenger were killed.
Ndlovu, who had been driving at the time and had been accused of failing to control the car, was acquitted due to a lack of evidence.
It was reported that four people were travelling in a BMW X5 which veered off the road and “hit several trees” before rolling, after a tyre burst. Following the crash, Ndlovu’s former agent Winston Makamure told BBC Sport: “Peter is now out of danger. He is now conscious and is communicating. He has internal injuries, head injuries, broken ribs and a broken leg.”
