DStv Premiership

Zwane on Ngcobo’s tantrum: ‘It’s not something bad’

Kaizer Chiefs caretaker coach Arthur Zwane says he understands what was going through Njabulo Ngcobo’s head when he threw a tantrum following a costly mistake in a league game on Wednesday afternoon.

Ngcobo was substituted shortly after committing the error, which allowed Golden Arrows to equalise and go on to win the game 2-1 in Durban.

The defender was evidently not pleased with Zwane’s decision to take him out as he snubbed a number of handshakes, including from Zwane and Dillon Shepard.

Lee Baxter was annoyed by Ngcobo’s behaviour and confronted him about it, which resulted in a scuffle.

Zwane believes that Ngcobo is angry for playing a big part in the team losing their third game in a row.

“I believe Njabulo was a bit upset at himself that he gave the ball away in the wrong area, and we were punished,” said Zwane.

“And I don’t view it as other people. (Some) may see it as something bad, but I was a player myself, so maybe he was upset and felt he could have done better.

“At halftime, we spoke about that (to say) release the ball early, don’t play the ball at the back, try to play the ball forward so we can attack. Unfortunately, he decided to play the ball back, or he was trying to play it short and didn’t see the danger, and we got punished.

“He will learn from it; that’s football. It is a game of mistakes and a game that makes us better. As much as I expected him to do better, it was his decision at the end of the day that he made on the field, but he will move on,” concluded Zwane.

Chiefs have lost three successive matches, two of them under the tutelage of club legend – Zwane – after taking over from axed Stuart Baxter. They host Cape Town City on Saturday at the FNB Stadium and will be looking to bounce back to winning ways.

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