Kaizer Chiefs interim coach Cavin Johnson has thrown a challenge to the club’s academy products, urging them to impress and make themselves indispensable first-team squad members.
Cavin Johnson’s challenge comes after Chiefs’ youth product Happy Mashiane featured for the first time this season on Sunday.
Mashiane played well in the few minutes he had in the second half as Chiefs beat Moroka Swallows 1-0 in a DStv Premiership at Dobsonville Stadium in Soweto.
With Johnson at the wheel, Kaizer Chiefs academy graduates Nkosingiphile Ngcobo, Mduduzi Shabalala, Bruce Bvuma, Sabelo Radebe, and Samkelo Zwane find themselves back in the mix for first-team opportunities.
But the interim coach has issued a stern challenge: elevate their game to cement their place in the starting lineup.
JOHNSON CALLS ON ACADEMY TO RISE TO THE OCCASION
“I see a bright future for them. I just see that we’ve had quite a few injuries, and they had to put up their hand,” said Johnson as Mashiane, Ngcobo, and Bvuma put in a decent shift in the Swallows game.
Zwane and Radebe unused substitutes in the game, where Christian Saile scored the winner for Chiefs.
OTHER SOCCER NEWS:The unprecedented rise of Morocco football
“They have put up their hand at the right moment; they have come in now, and as you said, they are not that young anymore, so they have to put up their hands a bit higher [work harder]. Not to be subservient to the guys that are injured.”
With Johnson’s backing, Chiefs’ academy stars have the opportunity to shine and make themselves integral members of the team.
Johnson has had mixed results in his first four matches, winning two and losing two
Johnson thrown into the hot seat on an interim basis after the club fired Molefi Ntseki due to poor results.