Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Yusuf Maart has opened up on his new role as a defensive midfielder at the club and working under head coach Arthur Zwane.
Maart joined Amakhosi after emerging as one of the leading talents in the DStv Premiership with Sekhukhune United over the past two seasons, which also earned him a place in the national team.
The technically gifted midfielder made incredible strides in the quick space of 24 months as he was released by rivals Orlando Pirates at the age of 25 which saw him return to Cape Town and train by himself before the Babina Noko opportunity arose.
He took it with both hands, leading them to the Motsepe Foundation Championship title, winning the COSAFA Cup with Bafana and helping his club retain their top-flight status before Chiefs came knocking with a fee in the region of around R6-million said to have prized him away from Sekhukhune.
However, since joining Chiefs, he’s been deployed in a deeper role than what he would have been accustomed to during his formative years and while at his former clubs, a role which Zwane has often reiterated he has the capabilities to excel in.
“The coach needs me, wherever he needs me [I will play] as a six, an eight or a 10,” Maart explained at Naturena this week. “I have a defensive mindset and an attacking mindset so it’s not difficult for me.
“It’s also not easy, you need to be patient – you need to be calm on the ball, you need to have the vision to be there, I think I have that which is why the coaches are playing me there.
“I can protect [the back four], I can [create] for the players in front of me, I can give them the ball so it’s not quite difficult.”
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The 27-year-old went on to state he’s enjoyed working under ‘10111’, who has come under scrutiny amongst the fans as they languish in 14th place after the opening seven games of the season.
“[Zwane] is a good coach, to be honest, and all the coaches I’ve worked with have also been good to me, I think his strength is that he’s in love with football, he enjoys football and when we go on the field in training he will tell us to try and do our best and be happy.”
Maart will be hoping to inspire Chiefs back to winning ways when they host SuperSport United at FNB Stadium this evening (20h00).
