Kekana questions Ngcobo progress as Chiefs midfielder faces uncertain future

Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Nkosingiphile Ngcobo has been told he must turn his long-standing potential into consistent performances, with former Mamelodi Sundowns captain Hlompho Kekana questioning whether the 26-year-old has made enough progress.

Kekana, the Bafana Bafana legend, said Ngcobo could no longer rely on the promise he showed earlier in his career, as reports suggest the player is considering leaving Amakhosi in search of a fresh start.

“I think we can all agree that in football you can’t have potential forever,” Kekana said on SoccerZone.

“You must reach a state where you are a player that a team can rely on.”

Ngcobo came through the Kaizer Chiefs academy and made his senior debut in 2019. The Pietermaritzburg-born playmaker has produced moments of quality during his seven years at Naturena, but injuries and inconsistent form have prevented him from establishing himself as a regular.

He has scored eight league goals since being promoted to the first team. According to Transfermarkt, he has also played only 44 matches across the past four seasons.

Kekana believes Ngcobo possesses the technical ability to become an important player but must improve his work rate and maintain his level over an entire season.

“He has huge potential, this boy – we know that he is one of the best players that we have in terms of creating moments. He knows show to pick a pass. He scores goals, he’s got good technique in him,” he said.

“But he has never hit the ground running at Chiefs, simply because he did not work so hard in terms of work rate – I think that’s the only thing that needs to happen (change) with him because if you are a player with that ability, you must make sure that you are playing (regularly) every season.

“He is 26 now. In the last four years, he has played 55 matches, so he’s been playing [approximately per season] 13 matches, 13 matches in the last four years. That’s not good enough for a player of that calibre.”

The figures cited by Kekana refer to 55 matches over the period, while the Transfermarkt total in the assessment of Ngcobo’s league involvement is 44 appearances across the last four seasons.

Remaining at Kaizer Chiefs would leave Ngcobo facing a difficult route back into the starting line-up. Competition for places has intensified, with Lebohang Maboe and Mduduzi Shabalala among the teammates competing for opportunities in midfield and attacking positions.

Ngcobo has made just two competitive appearances this season. He played 12 minutes in the Betway Premiership opener against Kruger United and also made a brief appearance in the MTN8 competition.