Kaizer Chiefs head coach Molefi Ntseki says Samkelo Zwane’s lack of game-time is due to the increased competition for places in midfield this season.
The academy graduate made major inroads into the senior team last season under his previous head coach Arthur Zwane, now back as the assistant at Amakhosi.
He featured 15 times after earning a promotion due to several dynamic displays in the DStv Diski Challenge set-up where he was lauded for his technical ability on the ball.
But the arrival of Edson Castillo and now Sibongeseni Mthethwa has seen Zwane limited to just 208 minutes of football in the senior team this term.
“I think he was promoted because he is a quality player, I think he played few games because he is a good player and competition is very fair at Kaizer Chiefs,” Ntseki said about his lack of game time.
“I think we’re fully aware we’re using him as a number six, and in the past games, we’ve had Yusuf Maart as a six and Maart has done well. And then we brought in Mthethwa into the team, so there’s good competition for the number six role at the club.
“The young man is working very hard, the young man is doing very well. His time will come and when that time comes, he will take the number six role and the older guys will have to fight to take him out of the team.
“I think it’s happened with the rest of the players, we started with Given Msimango, then Njabulo Ngcobo was given an opportunity and he’s done well. So the rest of the players are waiting patiently for their chance to take the jersey to be in the starting eleven.”
Chiefs take on AmaZulu on Saturday afternoon at FNB Stadium for their Carling Knockout Cup opener.
