Josta Dladla may not be a psychologist, but the former Kaizer Chiefs midfielder has expressed serious concerns about the mental state of one of the club’s highly-rated players.
The Soweto giants are currently undergoing a rebuilding process under the leadership of Tunisian tactician Nasreddine Nabi. Chiefs aim to end a nearly decade-long trophy drought with a squad that blends promising young talent with experienced players.
However, Chiefs have had a mixed start to the 2024/25 Betway Premiership season, with two wins, a draw, and two defeats in their opening five matches.
Moreover, they were recently eliminated from the Carling Knockout Cup by Mamelodi Sundowns, leaving the Nedbank Cup and league title as their only remaining hopes of reclaiming the glory days that once defined their legacy in SA football.
Dladla, who was part of the Amakhosi squad that last clinched a trophy – the 2014/15 league title under coach Stuart Baxter, believes one of the club’s players, Nkosingiphile Ngcobo, is not in a good mental space, which may be affecting his performance on the field.
In addition, last season, Ngcobo appeared to have gained weight, looking heavier than usual in recent months. This coincided with Chiefs’ worst-ever season, which saw them finish in 10th place.
JOSTA DLADLA CONCERNED ABOUT NKOSINGIPHILE NGCOBO’S MENTAL STATE
“…This boy at Kaizer Chiefs is not playing anymore; Ngcobo, one of the best players on the ball, he’s got a football mind, what a player,” said Dladla during his interview with George Lebese on the Izinja zeGame Podcast.
“But the mind is not right. That boy’s mind has been messed up…The mental side of the game, what’s where Chiefs need to have a look at it, maybe go see a [psychologist].”
Lebese, who is also a former Amakhosi midfielder, jumped in and added that the 25-year-old Ngcobo needs love and care. “And that’s when he needs the love, love him, like work with him,” he said.
“Hopefully, this conversation will get to him, and he will deal with it [mental side of the game] now, not later, but now, find help.”
Furthermore, Lebese is of the view that Ngcobo would thrive in a less pressured environment, away from the intense expectations and trophy drought that have plagued Chiefs in recent years.
“He [Ngcobo] finds himself in a very unfortunate situation where Chiefs has to win, so you can’t even nurse him,” he said.
“It is a different scenario if Ngcobo is at Sundowns now because Sundowns are winning, and they have all these quality players, so they would have time to nurse him and tell him what to work on in certain areas to improve his game and bring him in slowly.”
Lebese added: “Chiefs want results now because of what has been happening, so he is going to struggle [in the current set-up].”
NGCOBO MSHINI READY FOR CHALLENGE AT CHIEFS
Once hailed as the “future of Amakhosi” upon graduating from Chiefs’ academy in 2017, Ngcobo is yet to realise his full potential in the PSL.
His meteoric rise during the 2020/21 season, fueled by the intensity of the COVID-19 pandemic, saw him become a key player for Chiefs. In 40 appearances across all competitions, his spark ignited the team’s journey to the CAF Champions League final.
However, a series of injuries and a decline in form have since derailed his progress. Under Nabi, the midfield maestro has only made three appearances this season, with one start and two substitute appearances.
Nabi’s assistant, Cedric Kaze, sees potential in Ngcobo as 8 – a central midfielder and the player was deployed in that position this past Saturday in the Home of Legends Cup in Gqeberha.
The SA junior international is ready to work harder than ever to regain his form and contribute to Chiefs success.
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