Johnson defends Ngcobo’s fitness: ‘Chiefs have the best measures in the country’
Kaizer Chiefs interim coach Cavin Johnson has dismissed concerns about the fitness of midfielder Nkosingiphile Ngcobo, despite suggestions he appears overweight.
Ngcobo has been a regular starter under Johnson but hasn’t completed a full 90 minutes yet this season. This, along with his perceived physical condition, has drawn questions from some quarters.
However, Johnson insists the former youth international is in good shape and that the team has top-notch facilities and protocols to ensure player fitness.
“We have one of the best fitness centres in the country, best fitness measures in the country and when you do those things everything comes out perfect,” Johnson said.
He downplayed the visual cues, suggesting that sometimes appearances can be deceiving.
“If I’m telling you, you look fat, but you’re not fat, you look normal, you understand what I’m saying. Who are we as outside people to decide whether a person is fat or not? Do I look fat or overweight?”
Ngcobo did score a crucial winning goal for Chiefs against Richards Bay FC this season, showcasing his talent on the pitch. The club recently handed him a new two-year deal, underlining the 24-year-old’s importance as the club looks to rebuild a competitive squad.
JOHNSON EAGER TO GET NGCOBO BACK TO HIS BEST
Johnson believes Ngcobo has the potential to be a key player for the team, focusing on getting him back to peak match fitness after a recent injury.
Johnson was speaking after 10-man Amakhosi dropped points against struggling Moroka Swallows at the FNB Stadium. The goalless draw means the Soweto giants are yet to score a goal in 2024.
Under the former Al Ahly assistant coach, Johnson, Chiefs have only scored more than one goal in game once. It was a 3-2 win over Cape Town Spurs in November.
“Football is only nice when you see goals,” Johnson admitted. “[Throughout] my career, I’ve always believed if you score two, I score three; if you score six, I score seven.”
However, Johnson shifted the conversation slightly, suggesting a possible mental hurdle for the current generation of players.
“It’s not about anxiety,” he clarified. “It’s a mentality thing. We’re dealing with that generation of athletes [who are constantly bombarded by social media]… You guys are writing, talking, TikToks, tweeting… Maybe I need to get into that space to help them improve.”
Johnson will be hoping for better fortunes when he guides his charges against Golden Arrows on Tuesday night. They face Orlando Pirates on Saturday next week in the Soweto Derby.
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