Kaizer Chiefs coach Nasreddine Nabi has revealed how midfielder Sibongiseni Mthethwa went from being on the periphery of the club to cementing a place in his preferred starting XI.
Chiefs were left to lament their wastefulness as they squandered a two-goal lead against Royal AM in Polokwane on Saturday afternoon.
Whilst there were a number of positives for the Tunisian mentor to draw from, one of the standout features for Chiefs was the performance of Mthethwa, the 30-year-old midfielder nicknamed 'Ox,' who has experienced a rollercoaster journey since joining Kaizer Chiefs from Stellenbosch in September 2023.
Initially signed as a marquee player, Mthethwa impressed during the 2023/24 season, becoming a key figure in the team.
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However, with the arrival of coach Nabi at the start of the 2024/25 campaign, Mthethwa's game time significantly reduced, leading to speculation about a potential exit from Naturena.
Despite these setbacks, Mthethwa has managed to regain his place in the team. Using Kaizer Chiefs' friendly tournaments as a platform to showcase his abilities, he worked tirelessly to earn Nabi's trust.
His efforts have paid off, as he now appears to have cemented his spot in the starting XI, much to the satisfaction of his coach.
"I think Ox now understands his role," Nabi told journalists after their 2-2 draw against Royal AM.
"We worked together on the negative aspects and Ox worked hard to improve those. Because he worked hard, he has progressed and took his chance. So, congratulations to him for his performance," he said.
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