
Tashreeq Morris’s move to Kaizer Chiefs has generated considerable discussion, and his former coach, Roger De Sa, has offered valuable insight into why the striker could be a shrewd signing for the Soweto giants.
While Kaizer Chiefs, under coach Nasreddine Nabi, are actively seeking to bolster their squad with quality additions to address inconsistency and end their decade-long trophy drought, their January transfer activity has been relatively underwhelming.
This season has seen them struggle for consistency in the league (six wins, five losses, and three draws in 14 games) and miss out on two domestic trophies (the MTN8 won by Orlando Pirates and the Carling Knockout Cup won by Magesi FC). With Mamelodi Sundowns holding a significant lead in the Betway Premiership, the Nedbank Cup represents their most realistic chance of silverware this season.
To strengthen their attacking options, Chiefs have acquired Morris from SuperSport United in a swap deal that sent Christian Saile in the opposite direction. They have also secured the services of Congolese winger Glody Makabi Lilepo from French third-tier side Valenciennes FC for a reported fee of around €500,000 (approximately R9.6 million). These moves, along with the earlier free-agent signing of Gaston Sirino from Sundowns, represent Chiefs’ efforts to inject more attacking prowess into the team.
Speaking to FARPost, Roger De Sa, who coached Morris during his formative years at Ajax Cape Town, highlighted the striker’s dedication, physical presence, and work ethic. While acknowledging Morris’s technical limitations, De Sa emphasized his relentless approach and ability to disrupt opposing defenses. He believes that Morris’s presence will create opportunities for Chiefs’ more creative players, such as Sirino and Mduduzi Shabalala, by drawing attention from defenders.
“I coached him as a youngster at Ajax Cape Town when he was breaking through into the first team,” said De Sa. “He became a regular in the first team at a young age. We played him as an outright number nine, but sometimes, he could play out on the wing because of his speed and aggression, and he was willing to get into the box.
“Look, he is a big, strong player, physically very good, very honest player, he works extremely hard. But technically, I wouldn’t say he is your top player. He is not the type of guy who’s got fantastic abilities, but he has enough, and he makes up for it with his hard work and honesty in the game.
“One thing you can be sure of with Tashreeq Morris is that he will always give 100 per cent; I can put my house on that; he will always give his best in every game and training session.”
De Sa’s insights paint a picture of a player who compensates for any technical shortcomings with unwavering commitment and physicality. He recalled Morris breaking into the Ajax first team as a youngster, playing both as a traditional number nine and occasionally on the wing due to his speed and aggression.
The tactician confidently asserted that Morris will consistently give 100% in every game and training session, highlighting his reliability and commitment. He also emphasized that while Morris might not be a prolific goalscorer, his presence will create scoring opportunities for his teammates.
De Sa further elaborated on Morris’s potential impact, highlighting his aerial threat from set pieces and his defensive contributions. He believes that Morris’s physicality and ability to create chaos in the opposition’s defense will be invaluable for Chiefs.
Morris brings significant PSL experience to the table, having played over 205 games across all competitions, scoring 33 goals and providing 14 assists.
“If you are looking for a striker that will give you a lot of depth and threat behind defenders, a lot of muscle and physicality, and you have players around him that will benefit from the attention that he draws, I think he could be the right one,” added De Sa.
“He is not going to give you 15 goals, but he will give you a few. He will create a lot of chaos, and he will probably create a lot of attention, which maybe players around him will benefit from. He is strong and can help defensively. In set pieces, he is always a threat aerially. He is a good option, and I believe he can help any club in the PSL.”