SA U20’s Ngcobo up for Chiefs

South Africa Under-20 starlet Nkosingiphile Ngcobo is not losing sleep on being promoted to Kaizer Chiefs’ senior team, and says he would prefer to let his work on the field do the talking.

The versatile Pietermaritzburg-born attacking midfielder was one of the Amajita players who shone at the recently-concluded Africa Under-20 Cup of Nations in Niger‚ where he was also included in Africa’s U20 team.

Thabo Senong’s team finished third and qualified for the second successive Fifa U20 World Cup to be played in Poland in May.

“My job is to continue working hard and keep focused because I know my time [at Chiefs] will come‚” said Ngcobo of his prospects at Chiefs‚ where he has been given time to train with the first team.

“The coach [Ernst Middendorp] is always telling me to focus and work hard and my time will come.”

Chiefs recently began to field another promoted youngster‚ Happy Mashiane, 21‚ in their first team and Ngcobo, 19, has been mentioned as one of those next in line as Amakhosi look to their youngsters as they aim for a revival after an unprecedented four-year trophy drought.

On winning a place in Africa’s best U20 team‚ Ngcobo credited his teammates and the technical team for supporting him.

“It motivates me a lot but I want to thank everyone involved in my team because I didn’t do it alone‚” he said.

Amajita beat Nigeria on penalties in the third/fourth-place playoff in Niger.

My job is to continue working hard and keep focused... I know my time will come