Beleaguered Richards Bay coach Dimitar Pantev says he is crossing fingers for his striker Nqaba Xulu to remain fit so he can continue scoring for the side.
Xulu, 23, is currently the side’s top goal scorer with five goals, and the league’s second-best scorer (tied with Tshepang Moremi of Orlando Pirates) behind AmaZulu’s Thandolwenkosi Ngwenya who has nine goals.
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Xulu increased his goal tally to six in all competitions when he netted his side’s consolation in the 3-1 defeat to Sekhukhune United in the last 16 round of the Carling Knockout Cup in Polokwane last Sunday.
The forward has meanwhile been named in Bafana Bafana preliminary squad to face Kenya in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers this month.
Speaking after the Natal Rich boys’ elimination from the league cup, Pantev spoke about how clinical Xulu is and how much he needs him to be injury free.
“I already talked about this guy,” said Pantev.
“And I’m very happy first of his attitude and his ambition, and he has really high quality. And if he continues like that, I think that his future is moving too good. He can play on the higher stage.
“He’s a very clinical top goal scorer, and you see that he scores most of these chances in front of him. So, this is big benefit for us because even if you have few chances, if he is there, if he is in position, he will score.
“So, I cross fingers for him to be to be fit without injuries and to continue like that.”