The jury is still out

If we look at the evidence so far, and it is still early days (just nine starts into Ngcobo’s career as a midfielder), then the jury is certainly still out. He has shown real potential in the position but if we compare him to the gold standard of local number sixes, Rivaldo Coetzee, he is still a long way off. He may never have the ability to switch play with both feet like the Mamelodi Sundowns man, but he plays in a team with a different style anyway. What he could bring is a real shield for the defence and a platform for Amakhosi to give attacking license to those in front of him. Roadblock’s presence should allow Baxter to select Nkosingiphile Ngcobo more often. It should also give Chiefs the screen to select two balanced, attacking fullbacks in Sibusiso Mabiliso and Reeve Frosler or Njabulo Blom on their natural sides. The big question is whether an Amakhosi side with 16 goals leaked in 20 matches can afford to move one of their younger, proven central defenders away from his favoured role. The fact that we are in March and Ngcobo has started precisely zero matches in the middle of a back four is something no one could, or would, have predicted back in June. The poor performances of Erick Mathoho and Daniel Cardoso

against Golden Arrows could prove the ideal moment to try a younger, more dynamic centre-back pairing of Ngcobo and Siyabonga Ngezana in coming weeks. Perhaps Baxter needs to spend the FIFA break studying videos of Ngcobo’s outings for Swallows last season as a defender. There is definitely potential for him to be a top defensive midfielder, but he isn’t there yet and he should perhaps return to the back four in the short-term. ❐