Kaizer Chiefs sporting director Kaizer Motaung Jnr has opened up about the departure of Njabulo Blom, while also reflecting on the player's journey with the club.
Blom, who has been in the spotlight over the last few weeks due to the contractual situation he had with the Soweto giants, came through the ranks at Amakhosi and went on to be one of the club's consistent players in recent seasons.
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The 23-year-old has signed a deal with St Louis City in the MLS, who are coached by former Amakhosi left back Bradley Carnell.
"Everyone can see that Njabulo is a hard-working, athletic player. He has been able to play multiple positions in the team. He has been asked to play at right wing back, as a six, as an eight. The versatility that he has and the fighting spirit and grit that he has is something that stands out.
"Losing a player who has been playing at a consistent level does also provide an opportunity for somebody else to put their hand up, but I think we are going to lose a dynamic, hard-working player who has had a great understanding in terms of what's expected of him and I think that connection (with Arthur Zwane) has helped him to play at the level that he has been. We are missing someone who was a very important part of the team. It's bitter-sweet for us."
Motaung Jnr said that Blom's transfer to the MLS shows just how the investment made by Kaizer Motaung Snr in the youth structures is paying off.
"Njabulo Blom is an incredible athlete, a hard-working product of long and detailed investment by the chairman in our academy structure. I think people are seeing the fruits of the project and the passion that the chairman has for youth development. We come to a point where we see a young man who has tremendous athletic ability and technical ability and, at such a young age, has been able to produce consistent level of performance," Motaung Jnr said via Amakhosi's media department.
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"The fact that we have a22-year-old who has so many important games under his belt, be it league, cup or Champions League, it does bode well for the investment that the chairman has made in the youth structures. It bodes well for the level of coaching that has taken place on the development side."
