Kaizer Chiefs head coach Arthur Zwane admits Nkosingiphile Ngcobo has been struggling mentally for a while but is receiving professional help.
Ngcobo returned to the Chiefs squad in the Macufe Cup against Royal AM this past weekend after receiving a leave of absence after the untimely passing of his father.
The 22-year-old academy product is widely regarded as one of the most talented players in the squad but his performances of late have seen sections of the supporters question his progression.
But when asked by iDiski Times about his mental state and what is being done to help him during a period of instability on and off the field, Zwane admitted it’s something they are in the process of resolving.
“It’s been tough for the young man, very, very tough, we know the boy, where he comes from and actually these things started a long time ago,” the Amakhosi coach said at Naturena Village on Wednesday morning.
“His father was sick and you could see he wasn’t himself. But we had to lift his spirits and give him a helping hand – we had to make sure that we, help him to focus and it wasn’t easy for him.
“Unfortunately he ended up losing his father and right now, he’s getting professional help from the team. And we as technical staff are also trying to help him to get back into his best and there’s no doubt he’s gonna be back very soon.
“He’s a strong lad, he’s forever positive and has a strong mentality as well, so he’s going to be fine.”
Chiefs face off against AmaZulu in the first leg of the MTN8 semi-final on Saturday afternoon at FNB Stadium (15h30).
