Kaizer Chiefs coach Molefi Ntseki has shed light on his management of fringe players like Siyethemba Sithebe at the club.
Sithebe has struggled for regular game time at Kaizer Chiefs under Ntseki, starting only one game in the current season.
The dreadlocked midfielder’s lack of game time is due to the intense competition for midfield places at Chiefs.
Chiefs beefed up their squad with several top names following an underwhelming season under coach Arthur Zwane, who was replaced by Ntseki prior to the start of the 2023/24 campaign.
The Soweto giants, eager to reclaim the glory days, signed Edson Gastillo, Tebogo Potsane, Given Msimango, Thatoyaone Ditlhokwe, Mduduzi Mdantsane, Pule Mmodi, Jasond Gonzalez and Sibongiseni Mthethwa.
Several players like Siyethemba Sithebe, Samkelo Zwane, Happy Mashiane, Mduduzi Tshabalala, Bruce Bvuma and Sabelo Radebe have seen limited game time since the arrival of new players.
HOW NTSEKI KEEPS FRINGE PLAYERS MOTIVATED AND ENGAGED
Molefi Ntseki admitted that it is not easy to keep fringe players motivated but says they are always upbeat and positive at training and during games “All the players that are not playing, we normally have one-on-one chats with them,” Ntseki.
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Most recently, I had a very interesting chat with two of the players who are not playing regularly. “I gave them the confidence, the belief and to say thanks to them for how they conduct themselves. The way they perform at training.
“The attitude has always been good. I think the most important thing is the understanding you have with the players. “I think we have a very good technical team that has a way of putting a hand around each one of those players.
Whether it’s Sithebe, Zwane or Mashiane, they need to know that they’re one of us even though they not playing.”