Mamelodi Sundowns legend Hlompho Kekana believes Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Nkosingiphile Ngcobo has reached a stage of his career where potential alone is no longer enough.
Ngcobo was once regarded as one of South Africa’s most promising young midfielders. However, at 26, the midfielder has struggled to establish himself as a regular figure at Amakhosi.
Kekana believes the time has come for the talented midfielder to turn his ability into consistent performances.
‘You can’t have potential forever’
Speaking on SoccerZone, Kekana acknowledged Ngcobo’s technical qualities but questioned his consistency and work rate.
“I think we can all agree that in football you can’t have potential forever.”
According to the Sundowns legend, Ngcobo possesses many of the qualities required to become an influential midfielder.
Kekana highlighted the Chiefs star’s ability to create opportunities, pick out passes, score goals and use his technique effectively.
However, he believes those qualities have not translated into enough regular appearances or sustained performances.
“He has never hit the ground running at Chiefs,” Kekana said, pointing to what he considers a lack of work rate as a major factor.
Ngcobo’s Chiefs career under the spotlight
Ngcobo joined the Kaizer Chiefs senior setup in 2019 after progressing through the club’s academy.
The midfielder was widely regarded as a player with significant potential, but his development has not followed the trajectory many expected.
Kekana pointed to Ngcobo’s limited number of appearances as evidence of the problem.
The former Sundowns captain noted that Ngcobo has featured in only around 55 matches over the last four years, averaging roughly 13 appearances per season.
For a player with his technical ability, Kekana believes that level of involvement is not enough.
‘You must reach a state where a team can rely on you’
Kekana’s central argument is that Ngcobo must move beyond being viewed primarily as a promising talent.
“You must reach a state where you are a player that a team can rely on,” he said.
With Ngcobo approaching 27, the discussion around his career is becoming increasingly focused on consistency rather than potential.
The midfielder still has the technical qualities that initially earned him widespread praise, but regular football and sustained performances will be crucial if he is to fulfil those early expectations.
For Kaizer Chiefs supporters, the bigger question is whether Ngcobo can still establish himself as an important player for the club.
Has Nkosingiphile Ngcobo failed to fulfil his potential at Kaizer Chiefs, or does he still have time to turn his career around?
