Kaizer Chiefs interim coach Arthur Zwane has no issue with defender Njabulo Ngcobo’s reaction after being substituted during the 2-1 loss against Golden Arrows on Wednesday in the DStv Premiership encounter.
Chiefs opened the scoring in the 18th minute via Khama Billiat but two goals in the second half by Siboniso Conco and Michael Gumede handed Arrows the victory at the Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium.
Ngcobo was substituted in the 73rd minute of the game not long after being at fault for the Arrows equaliser in the 60th minute. The defender was not happy after being taken off and refused to acknowledge both coaches Zwane and Dillon Sheppard before a flare-up with goalkeeper coach Lee Baxter.
“I believe Njabulo was a bit upset at himself that he gave the ball away in the wrong areas and we were punished,” Zwane said after the match.
“I don’t view it [the player’s reaction] as other people may seem to be something that is bad.
“I was a player myself so maybe he was upset, I believe he was upset at himself and he feels he could have done better there.
“Because at half-time we spoke about it, to release the ball early, don’t play the ball at the back, try to play the ball forward so we can attack.
“Unfortunately, he decided to play the ball back or he was trying to play it short and couldn’t see the danger, so we got punished.
“As a player, he will learn from that, it’s football.
“Football is a game of mistakes, it’s a game that teaches us to be better, as much as I expected him to do better – that was his decision he made on the day on the field and we got punished from it. He will learn from it and move on,” Zwane added.
