Kaizer Chiefs DStv Diski Challenge head coach Vela Khumalo has provided a detailed analysis of the club's young and newly promoted attacker, Naledi Hlongwane.
The 19-year-old has been performing well for Chiefs' DDC side under Khumalo's guidance, even earning Man of the Match in the Carling All-Stars match after scoring a brace against Magesi FC in December.
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Khumalo has cautioned the club's demanding supporters not to expect too much from the Sebokeng-born starlet too soon.
"Hlongwane is a promising youngster, and I have heard reports that he is excelling with the first team over in the Netherlands," says Khumalo, speaking exclusively to KickOff.com.
"However, I'm not sure if this is the right time for him to join the first team. He might face pressure since the team is not performing well at the moment.
"It's a catch-22 situation - whether he will live up to expectations or whether he needs to be supported by older, more experienced players to excel. It's a tricky situation.
"But he is ready.
"He is a notable striker and similar to Wandile Duba. If the team were performing well, I would be confident he would shine immediately, but given the current circumstances, we just don't know what to expect.
"It also depends on whether he understands what the first team coach wants from him," he continues.
Khumalo says though Hlongwane is a talented player capable of meeting expectations, he is unsure if the timing of the transition is right.
"As an individual, he is very talented and hungry for success, and he needs to be given a chance. His strength is not primarily in scoring; he is not your typical sniper or lethal striker. He does not play like Neo Bohloko, Lesley Manyathela, or Pollen Ndlanya, who are known for their box presence.
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"What he excels at is breaking lines and opening up defences. Whenever he gets an opportunity, he can take advantage of it. His strength lies in making runs into space.
"If you recall in the Carling All-Stars match against Magesi, he did not start as a striker; instead, he played more as a second striker. He is good at identifying space and getting into dangerous areas, but he is not someone who waits inside the box to score goals," details Khumalo.
