Head coach Cavin Johnson has come to the defence of striker Jasond Gonzalez, who is yet to find the back of the net for Kaizer Chiefs since his arrival in August last year.
Gonzalez joined the Soweto giants at the start of the season on a season-long loan, with Chiefs having the option to buy him. As the campaign draws to a close, the Colombian is yet to find the back of the net in his 12 appearances so far.
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Although news reaching KickOff is that the Colombian is facing the exit door at Naturena after failing to impress during his loan spell, Johnson has called for patience over the troubled striker.
"You must leave that for the management to ask them. [Yes], I work with him and he’s a quality player," Johnson said when asked by journalists if Gonzalez was still considered Chiefs pedigree.
"But my problem is that I’ve been here too short a time and too short a time to get results all the time.
"You know some players, especially South Americans, take a little bit longer than others to get to know the feel of the PSL or the feel of South African football.
"So, me being here six months, I would tell you that at other clubs where we had the same problem, we’d give those kind of players at least eight months and that’s what I see... that he needs a little bit more time.
"But every time we put him in, he’s there."
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Johnson went on to reference a match Amakhosi played against Richards Bay FC in December 2023.
"You look at the game we played, the one where 'Mshini' [Nkosingiphile Ngcobo] scored, He [Gonzalez] is on the pitch and if you look at the run he makes, he makes the goal.
"So, it’s those little things and yes, we judge people by how many goals they score. But I think he’s a good player, he does well in training.
"It’s just that you pick the team based on the opposition you are going to play and when that happens, we hope we can get him on the pitch as well."
Chiefs next take on TS Galaxy at FNB Stadium on Tuesday.
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