Former Moroka Swallows player Samuel ‘Sea’ Ngobeni, who coached the Kaizer Chiefs-bound defender at youth level, says his prodigy deserves the Amakhosi breakthrough after two seasons of consistency at Stellenbosch FC.
Ngobeni knows how much the Chiefs’ academy graduate has some unfinished business with the club he joined at 16 before leaving six years later. Kwinika was crowned Players’ Player of the Season and Footballer of The Season at the Stellies end of the season awards ceremony on Tuesday.
“I’m so happy for him; he deserves this breakthrough because he has worked very hard and consistently in the last two seasons. It’s not easy to be far away in a place like Cape Town for a kasi boy, but he has shown discipline. He knew what he went for,” Ngobeni, who coached Kwinika at Meadowlands Hotspurs, told FARPost.
He is impressed with the progress he has made over the last couple of seasons in which he has played for Chippa United, Thanda Royal Zulu and Bidvest Wits. The former Dynamos player is convinced Kwinika, at 28, is finally mature enough to play for his boyhood club finally.
“I watched all his games this season, and I think this is the right time for him to move to Chiefs. He is 28,” he said.
He is, however, disappointed the talented defender has been overlooked for the national team but believes the move to Chiefs could finally open that door. “I’m so disappointed the national team coach overlooked him; he was consistent for two seasons.”
His advice to the former youth international is that he needs to be disciplined. “He has a steady girlfriend, which helps with stability. You can’t be distracted when you’re in a stable relationship. Lionel Messi got married early in his career and is still with the same woman. In South Africa, we keep changing, and you won’t go far if you do that; you get sick.”
Meanwhile, Ibraheem Jabaar was awarded the club’s Young Player of the Season, while Rafiq De Goede was named the Sportsman of the Year award. Ashley Du Preez won the Goalscorer of the Year for his nine goals. The CEO’s award went to Diski Challenge coach Evangelos Vellios, who doubles up as a first-team assistant.
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