Recent developments from Naturena suggest the arrival of assistant coach Cedric Kaze at Kaizer Chiefs has positively impacted the prospects of defensive midfielder Sibongiseni "Ox" Mthethwa.
Sources close to both the club and the player have indicated that Kaze has been instrumental in persuading head coach Nasreddine Nabi to give the former Bafana Bafana midfielder a chance to showcase his abilities.
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With Edson Castillo sidelined by injury, Kaze sees Mthethwa's experience as crucial for the team's success in the defensive midfield role.
"You see since coach Kaze arrived he has been working with Ox and he saw his strength which other defensive midfielders in the team don't have. He then spoke to coach Nabi about it but during the FIFA break there was no (official) game where they could have played him. But then the Home of Legends was the perfect time to give him a chance and he proved himself," said the Siya source.
"In both games against Golden Arrows and Mamelodi Sundowns he played 90 minutes and the coaches were happy. And remember, coach Kaze was in charge and he has seen what Ox can do. With the arrival of coach Kaze, his future is almost settled now," the source added.
A second Siya source stated that Mthethwa hasn't performed as well as he did at Stellenbosch FC due to limited opportunities at Chiefs. Many South African soccer followers wondered how a player who impressed at Stellies to make it in the Bafana squad, would then struggle at Amakhosi.
"He is a great player in that position. You remember at Stellies he was even in the national team? It's because he was playing week in, week out. He hasn't had that chance at Chiefs. Look at how many games he played last season. Less than 20. And this season he has just played one full 90 minutes against Richards Bay and he did very well," said the second insider.
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"I think with the arrival of coach Kaze and injury to Edson Castillo it will help him regain his place and even go back to the national team. It's just a matter of him playing regularly. That's the only difference. He is still the same player if given a chance to play regularly. He can't become a bad player just after joining Chiefs," the second source added.
After joining Amakhosi during the transfer window deadline last season, the 30-year-old failed to impress, but the team as a whole struggled in the PSL. This season, he has played only once, completing a full match in Wednesday's game which saw Chiefs get back to winning ways.
Attempts to reach Chiefs for a comment were unsuccessful at the time of publication.
As the season progresses, Mthethwa's increasing involvement could be pivotal for Chiefs. With the backing of Kaze and the unfolding circumstances, the midfielder is poised to play a role in the team's line-up, showcasing his potential to both domestic and national audiences.
