Former Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Junior Khanye says Nkosingiphile Ngcobo should be playing for Bafana Bafana at this stage of his career and adds that the Pietermaritzburg-born player could fulfil that dream playing elsewhere.
Ngcobo, 25, has been with Chiefs' first team since 2017, having been promoted from the club's juniors.
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Following a promising start with the senior team with regular game time and impressive performances, the midfielder has struggled for enough minutes in recent seasons, with Khanye now doubting if he will be able to replicate his form any time soon.
Ngcobo scored in the 2-0 victory over Golden Arrows in the Home of Legends Cup in Gqeberha last weekend to raise hopes that he can rediscover his form under coach Nasreddine Nabi and his technical team.
"I'm going to be direct and straightforward in answering you and say, the boy must go and try somewhere else. I've got nothing against the boy as a person but in terms of his football and career, he should be a national team player by now in my opinion. He should be playing regularly in the national team by now, and in saying that I am not discouraging him, but I am doing the exact opposite and that is encouraging him. If (Relebohile) Mofokeng is already in the national team now, how has he (Ngcobo) been left behind? Mofokeng isn't having it easy at Pirates as he is competing with very talented and experienced players, but he has showed his class and proved his worth to be where he is now. I do understand that players aren't the same, but Ngcobo should have been far ahead of where he is at the moment," said Khanye, speaking exclusively to the Siya crew.
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"It's been a while that Ngcobo has been at Chiefs, it's his fourth or fifth season in the first team, if I am not mistaken. Until when will he be promising? In my view, Chiefs doesn't have top quality players that can make it that difficult for him to compete in his position. Who is he competing with? If he was at Sundowns I would understand. At Sundowns he would be competing with players like Lucas Ribeiro or Mshishi (Themba Zwane), and I would understand. I really don't understand why he hasn't been playing regularly at club level as that is making it extremely difficult for him to be considered for the national team. In conclusion, for me the boy is not good enough for Chiefs and I would like to see him trying elsewhere and maybe he can excel so that we can finally get to see his full potential. If we expect more from the boy, we would just be unrealistic," Khanye added.
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By Masebe Qina
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