Kaizer Chiefs rising star Naledi Hlongwane has been spotted training with the senior team ahead of Sunday’s Nedbank Cup match against Free Agents FC.
Kick-off at FNB Stadium is at 18:00.
Hlongwane is one of the three DStv Diski Challenge (DDC) that coach Nasreddine Nabi promised to give a chance this year.
The 19-year-old striker attacker stole the limelight in December when he netted a brace against Magesi FC in the Carling Black Label Cup.
Hlongwane had been voted for by football fans following his constant exploits in the Chiefs DDC team.
According to Soccer Laduma, Chiefs have lined up a three-year contract offer for Hlongwane.
Should that happen, then Nabi would have been true to his words when he said Chiefs would retain at least one of the three DDC players he intended to closely assess.
Here is what Nabi said in December 2024:
“In our project, there’s a very good collaboration within the club, especially with the coach of the younger teams, the U23,” said Nabi at the time.
“It’s a process and we get reports every week, every two weeks about the players that can come train with the first team.
“That’s why after the new year there are going to be three players that will be joining the first team to train with them.
“But it’s not something that started because Hlongwane has scored two goals.
“It’s been a process and we want to go through the process not to get emotional because someone scored two goals in a friendly game and then suddenly he can play in a big club like Kaizer Chiefs.
“It’s a process and within those three that will be invited, the one who is going to perform is going to be given a chance to stay and to play with the first team.”
PICTURE: HLONGWANE TRAINS WITH KAIZER CHIEFS FIRST TEAM
HOW SOON SHOULD HLONGWANE BE GIVEN A CHANCE?
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