Da Cruz explains why Ngcobo has seen so little action at Chiefs

Kaizer Chiefs coach Fernando Da Cruz has addressed why midfielder Nkosingiphile Ngcobo has had so little game time this season. According to iDiski Times, the coach says the player has to earn his place through his work at training.

Two appearances so far

Ngcobo, who is 26, has played in only two matches in all competitions this season. One was in the Betway Premiership and the other in the MTN8, where Chiefs met Golden Arrows.

His involvement has been even more limited lately. Over Chiefs’ most recent seven matches, he sat on the bench once without getting onto the field. For the other six, he did not make the team list at all.

What the coach said

Da Cruz spoke at a press conference at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Thursday. He insisted that nothing is going on behind the scenes and that he has no problem with the player, whom he referred to by the nickname "Mshini".

The French coach said Ngcobo must show what he can do in training if he wants more opportunities. He also pointed to the depth of talent in the middle of the park, saying that other players operate in the same position. He named Mduduzi Shabalala as one who has been performing well.

"There’s competition," Da Cruz said. He added that if Ngcobo keeps putting in the effort, his chances should come, as one already did in the MTN8 match against Golden Arrows.

What this means for supporters

Chiefs fans who have wondered about Ngcobo’s absence now have a clear explanation from the coach. By his account, this is a matter of selection and competition for places, not a dispute between player and coach.

The best way to judge whether anything changes will be the team lists ahead of upcoming matches. If Ngcobo returns to the matchday group, it would suggest his training efforts are being noticed. Until then, Shabalala and the other midfielders appear to be ahead of him in the pecking order.

This story is based on reporting by iDiski Times.