Nkosingiphile Ngcobo’s lack of game time at Kaizer Chiefs under Stuart Baxter EXPLAINED!

Kaizer Chiefs youngster Nkosingiphile Ngcobo stole the show against Sekhukhune United on Sunday evening. 

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Ngcobo’s goal and assist put further gloss on an impressive all round performance, which had Chiefs fans asking themselves again, why is he not playing regularly? 

Chiefs were inactive for two weeks

If there were plenty of concerns when a Covid-struck Chiefs took to the field for the first time in two weeks, it would have been understandable. The last time Chiefs played, they secured a convincing 3-1 victory over Swallows FC and the fans as well as coaching staff may have had concerns about momentum being lost. However, they made Sekhukhune look like the team that had been out of action, with Ngcobo pulling the strings. 

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With regular Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter currently part of those affected by the Covid-19 outbreak at the club, assistant coach Arthur Zwane gave his DStv Diski Challenge product, Ngcobo a rare start. From the first minute, the South African junior international showed clear intent. Playing in his customary number 10 role, he became the source of everything positive that came out of the Amakhosi team. 

Ngcobo bagged the Man of the Match award

In the end Sekhukhune had no answers for his exploits, with Ngcobo sealing his impressive return to the Chiefs starting line up with a Man of the Match award. Speaking post-match, Zwane was quizzed on why the player had seen significantly less game time this term, as opposed to under  former coach Gavin Hunt last season. The club legend then gave reasons why.

Zwane explains why he struggled for game time this season

“You know sometimes in football, more especially when we come from a season that was tough for us because we played in the Champions League as well as the domestic league and cup games at the same time, him (Ngcobo) and Njabulo (Blom) and many other youngsters played a lot of games,” said Zwane.

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Zwane then speaks on what he noticed about both Ngcobo and Blom after getting extensive game time for the Chiefs first team last season. 

Are we going to see more of him going forward?

“You could see them dropping a little bit in terms of having fatigue here and there.  We had to manage him and we can see now that he is coming back. He is alive again and we are happy to see him like this – showcasing his talent and performing like he did.” He concluded.

Chiefs will next travel to Durban to take on Royal AM, in a grudge match.