TS Galaxy striker Samir Nurkovic has spoken openly about what left him “surprised” after his first season in South Africa when he was still turning out for Kaizer Chiefs.
‘Kokota Piano’ is the nickname he was given when he was banging goals for Amakhosi, having joined at the beginning of the 2019/20 campaign.
It was a promising season for the Soweto giants under the tutelage of Ernst Middendorp who came close to winning the ABSA Premiership in what would be the end of the then-five-year drought for the club.
They gave it away on the last day, drawing with Baroka FC, a result that saw Mamelodi Sundowns snatch the title after a victory over Black Leopards.
The Serbian striker played 26 of 30 league games and was a talisman for the side, rattling in 13 goals and providing six assists.
And across all competitions, he had 20 goal contributions.
Nurkovic says to this day, he’s still confused how the awards weren’t bestowed upon him after such an impressive “first season” for a “foreign player”.
The 31-year-old was nominated for the PSL Footballer of the Season award, but Themba Zwane of Mamelodi Sundowns walked away with it. And one of the striker’s goals was nominated for the Goal of the Season award but his then-teammate Lebohang Manyama won it.
NURKOVIC BELIEVES HE DESERVED AWARDS AFTER HIS FIRST SEASON AT CHIEFS
“[Combining both goals and assists], I was the best contributor in the league,” said Nurkovic in an exclusive interview with FARPost.
“The first season for the foreign player, I was expecting them to give me some awards but they didn’t, they skipped me.
“I’m still confused why they did that.
“I had a very good season; there’s a lot of other factors that come in, like the first season in the country as a foreign player. You have to see that.
“To do this, a lot of players need time to adjust, but that was my first season. I was really surprised I didn’t get anything in that season.
“But nevertheless, I enjoyed, and I’m still enjoying. I had a little bit of setbacks, but I’m still professional, and I’m working hard.
“I’m back on the field and I’m going to try and score as much goals as possible.”
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