Orlando Pirates assistant coach Mandla Ncikazi has explained why he does not want to compare the situation of Kaizer Chiefs striker Christian Saile Basomboli to Marou Souaibou, the Buccaneers’ January signing. There has been an anticipation for Souaibou to make his debut for Pirates, especially after Basomboli, another foreign striker signing, was quickly integrated into the Chiefs team.
However, Souaibou was an unused substitute against All Stars in the Nedbank Cup this past weekend. Ncikazi explained why they could not put him on. “The substitutions unfortunately, are still that number. If there was an opportunity, we could put him in, but the game determined that we could not use him, we didn’t use Kermit (Erasmus),” Ncikazi told journalists in an impromptu presser after the game.
Ncikazi also went on to explain other challenges they are facing with regards to his adaptation, as the language is still the issue, coming from a French-speaking country. “The language is different from ours, it becomes the adaptation that we must overcome but he’s doing well, you can see he’s a top player. He just has to adapt on how we play, I’m hoping the adaptation will be soon,” he said.
The former Golden Arrow mentor also lifted the lid on what type of a striker the 22-year-old is and dispelled suggestions that they are under pressure to fast-track his introduction to the team after Basomboli hit the ground running at Chiefs. “He can play as a leading striker, he can play two strikers on top, he can play on the side when we’re playing 4-3-3, he’s very versatile. Let’s see how he adapts into the South African game and we’re hoping the best out of him,” he continued.
Ncikazi also spoke about the differences between Basomboli and Souaibou’s situations. “The pressure comes from you guys (journalists). We’re just working at our own pace, we’re doing our adaptation in our own way and we cannot compare the two. I think the other guy (Basomboli) was playing in Zambia and Zambia speaks English, the league is different. (Souaibou is) coming from a French-speaking country, the conditions are totally different and I think it would be unfair to compare the two,” he added.
