Kaizer Chiefs coach, Nasreddine Nabi, has cautioned against jumping to conclusions following the impressive performance of young striker Naledi Hlongwane in the Carling All-Star game, stating that scoring a brace in the exhibition match does not necessarily mean the player is ready for first-team football.
Hlongwane, a standout forward from the Chiefs' DStv Diski Challenge team, was one of the fan-voted players selected to participate in the annual Carling Black Label Champion Cup All-Star match. The format of the event provides a platform for emerging talent, offering younger players the chance to showcase their skills in front of a large audience. The young striker did just that, netting two goals in a commanding 3-0 win over Magesi, a performance that earned him the Man of the Match award.
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While the brace and match-winning performance were certainly a cause for celebration, Nabi is quick to temper expectations. He acknowledged Hlongwane's talent but emphasized that the Carling All-Star game should not be seen as a definitive benchmark for promotion to the senior team.
"There is a very good collaboration within the club between ourselves and the development teams. It's a process and we get reports every two weeks about the players that are ready to come and train with the first team. That is why after the new year, there will be three players who will join the first team to train with us - but it is not something that started because Hlongwane has scored two goals, no," Nabi told journalists after their 1-0 win over Chippa United.
"It's a process and we want to go through it, not to get emotional because someone scored two goals in a friendly game and suddenly he can play for a big club like Kaizer Chiefs. It's a process and from the three who are selected, the one who performs will be given a chance to stay and play for the first team," he said.
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