Bafana Bafana captain Ronwen Williams has hinted at how coach Hugo Broos can get the best out of Njabulo Blom.
Blom was an unused substitute when Bafana beat Mozambique 2-1 on Thursday and looks likely to start on Sunday.
South Africa host Angola in an international friendly at the Mbombela Stadium as they continue to prepare for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
The Kaizer Chiefs utility player has played as a defensive midfielder in recent club games.
BLOM PLAYED RIGHT-BACK
Former Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter often used him at right-back, perhaps because of a crisis at left-back last season. With issues at left-back, Baxter moved right-footed Reeve Frosler to the left and had Blom filling in at right-back because of his versatility.
However, Chiefs coach Arthur Zwane, who knows Blom from the Amakhosi’s youth structures, has had him play in the middle of the park.
Broos has since rewarded him for fantastic performances in the heart of the Chiefs midfield.
However, his national team captain has seemingly hinted where the 22-year-old would be best deployed.
“He’s not new. He was part of our World Cup campaign and played one game against Ethiopia. It’s just that he was out for a long time,” Williams told FARPost in a one-on-one interview.
ROCK SOLID IN MIDFIELD
The Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper seems to have been impressed by Blom’s midfield performances.
“He came in and did what we know he can do – to be rock solid in the midfield. [To] give those passes. He has been looking really good [in the national team],” added Williams.
Blom is credited for his quick thinking and incisive play and played a big part in the Soweto derby against Orlando Pirates, which Chiefs won 1-0.
His upturn in form comes after Zwane moved him to central midfield this season.
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