Kaizer Chiefs star’s quality questioned – ‘You can’t have potential forever’

Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Nkosingiphile Ngcobo is facing mounting pressure after Mamelodi Sundowns legend Hlompho Kekana publicly questioned his development and lack of consistency at the club.

The former Bafana Bafana captain warned that “potential cannot last forever,” voicing concerns over the playmaker’s failure to establish himself as a key player for Amakhosi. Kekana’s critique comes amid growing speculation that the 26-year-old is seeking a move away from Naturena to rejuvenate his career.

A product of the esteemed Kaizer Chiefs youth academy, the Pietermaritzburg-born talent made his senior debut in 2019. Despite showing glimpses of his quality over seven years with the club, he has struggled to live up to his early promise.

A combination of injuries and inconsistent form has hampered his progress, contributing to a modest record of just eight league goals since his promotion.

Kenana questions Ngcobo’s qualities

According to Transfermarkt, he has played in only 44 matches over the past four seasons, highlighting his struggle for regular game time.

Speaking on SoccerZone on SABC, Kekana offered a blunt assessment of Ngcobo’s situation. “I think we can all agree that in football you can’t have potential forever,” he stated. “You must reach a state where you are a player that a team can rely on.”

“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 how to pick a pass. He scores goals; he’s got good technique in him,” Kekana acknowledged.

“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.”

Kaizer Chiefs star faces stiff competition

Kekana also pointed to the midfielder’s limited appearances. “He is 26 now. In the last four years, he has played 55 matches, so he’s been playing approximately 13 matches per season… That’s not good enough for a player of that calibre.”

Should Ngcobo remain at Chiefs, his path to the starting XI appears challenging. He faces stiff competition from teammates like Lebohang Maboe and Mduduzi Shabalala, who are currently ahead of him in the pecking order.

This season, his involvement has been minimal, with just two competitive appearances: a brief cameo in the MTN8 and a 12-minute run-out in the Betway Premiership opener against Kruger United.