A beaming Fernando da Cruz could not hide his satisfaction when asked about Langelihle Phili, but the Kaizer Chiefs head coach was quick to highlight one key area the rising star must sharpen to become the player he fully wants.
Phili, who was officially unveiled as an Amakhosi player barely two weeks ago, has already made his presence felt at the club.
The skilful winger announced himself on the big stage on Saturday, scoring in front of a packed FNB Stadium as Chiefs played out to a 1-1 draw against Mamelodi Sundowns in the Betway Premiership.
Having already featured in three matches across all competitions, the youngster has made an immediate impact, even picking up a Man of the Match award along the way.
FERNANDO DA CRUZ WANTS LANGELIHLE PHILI ‘TO RECOVER THE BALL AND KEEP IT’
Phili’s blistering pace and fearless trickery have amplified excitement among the Amakhosi faithful, who have a long-standing appreciation for crafty wide men who take on defenders with positive intent.
While delighted with the teenager’s spark, Da Cruz stressed that the next step in Phili’s evolution involves ball retention and helping out defensively when the team is under siege.
Against Sundowns, the attacker gave away possession too easily in the opening 45 minutes, though his French mentor noted a marked improvement after the break.
“First of all, I would like to see him continue to score goals,” said Da Cruz.
“And also when we defend a lot like today, I would like that when we recover the ball, he is able to keep the ball to support the team, as in the first half he lost a lot of balls.
“But in the second half, he was way better as he was able to support the team, and I’m very pleased that he scored. We need to give him time to adapt toWhat Da Cruz wants Langelihle Phili to add to his game Chiefs and to our game model, and it will be better step by step.”
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