Kaizer Chiefs head coach Arthur Zwane has explained how Samkelo Zwane's role and style differs to that of former Chiefs anchor Njabulo Blom.
Following Blom's departure to join Major League Soccer (MLS) outfit St. Louis City in December, Amakhosi promoted DDC midfielder Samkelo Zwane to the first team, handing him a first Premiership start in the defensive midfield role for a New year's Eve clash against Golden Arrows.
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For supporters, Samkelo was understood to be the direct replacement for Blom, but after nine appearances for Amakhosi, questions have been raised over his style of play and role in the team.
Coach Zwane has cleared the air on the differences between the pair's roles.
"If you recall we ended up deploying one of our former players Njabulo Bom who gave us stability and fight in the middle just to protect the back four or the central area on the field and to make life difficult for the opposition, not to penetrate us through the middle," Zwane explained.
"He did we very well, Njabulo, unfortunately he had to go for greener pastures and we had to look at a model soccer player that can make us tick, that can also help the defence – when it comes to that, he [Samkelo] is still lacking in that aspect because that's not him.
"But when he has the ball, the more we're on the ball that means we will defend less. He uses the ball very wisely, he knows when to pass the ball, which areas to pass the ball in order for us to hurt the opposition.
"Also to have someone like Cole, unfortunately Cole has been injured, it's only now that he's stared training. We had Nange as well who has been injury prone and also having challenges in his personal life in terms of losing a close family member, so all those things, those are key players who couldn't be available when we needed them.
The 21-year-old completed 90 minutes in each of Chiefs' last two matches, including a Man of the Match performance against Stellenbosch.
"We are grooming him [Samkelo], we are helping him to settle in because earlier on we didn't want him to put him under pressure and unfortunately he's in the thick of things right now and he has to lead," Zwane added.
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