Kaizer Chiefs latest: ‘Njabulo Ngcobo must prove he’s the best centre-back’

Kaizer Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter says Njabulo Ngcobo must prove that he’s the best centre-back the club has in order for him to play there.

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Ngcobo has played just two games at centre-back since joining Chiefs from Swallows – he played the rest of the games in central midfield.

And Baxter said while Ngcobo probably prefers to play at centre-back, he has yet to prove that he’s the best in that position since his arrival at Chiefs.

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Ironically, Ngcobo walked away with the PSL Defender of the Season award last season, and Chiefs signed him to reinforce their defence.

Baxter was asked the question on Ngcobo’s absence following Amakhosi’s 1-0 defeat to TS Galaxy in the Nedbank Cup on Saturday.

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While Baxter said he will continue to play Ngcobo in central midfield, he revealed the lanky star wasn’t selectable against TS Galaxy due to a 12-inch burn on his foot.

BAXTER DISMISSES NGCOBO AS THE BEST CENTRE-BACK FOR KAIZER CHIEFS

“Ngcobo has some of the worst burns I’ve ever seen on a footballer. He has been out of training and he wasn’t selectable and he won’t be for a while,” Baxter told the media.

“Even though he wants to play at centre-back, he will play at centre-back if he’s the best centre-back we have.

“If he’s not the best centre-back we have and I put him in the centre of midfield. I would think he wants to play wherever selected. Which is the indication he’s given to me,” he said.

“I’m sure his preference is centre-back but he has got to prove to us that he is the best centre-back for that job.

“He’s had a few injuries and he’s been up and down. So, it has not been easy for him, and it’s his first season at a club like Kaizer Chiefs. So, I’m not rushing him. I’m going to try and evaluate him over a longer period of time,” added Baxter.

“It would help him in that evaluation if he didn’t have a 12-inch burn that has ripped the skin off him and he can hardly work.

“It would help him to show me in training that he’s worthy of that place once he gets over that.”

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