He may not have kicked a ball for the club this season, but Orlando Pirates assistant coach Mandla Ncikazi has revealed how the club can get the best out of one the side's fan favourites.
Read: Ncikazi: They Asked Why Lorch Is Still Playing Here
Ntsako Makhubela started his Pirates career like a house on fire after joining from Lamontville Golden Arrows in 2021.
He dazzled the Bucs faithful and, in the process, picked up a number of Man of the Match awards.
Fast forward to the current season and the 28-year-old can't seem to buy a game under current Bucs head coach Jose Riveiro, which has sparked rumours of an exit from the Buccaneers in the January transfer window, albeit on loan.
However, in Ncikazi, Makhubela has a coach who is all too familiar with his personality.
Having worked together at Arrows in the past, the Bucs mentor has shed light on what the club needs to do if they are to get the best out of 'Neverdie'.
"If I look at South African players and how you relate to them, maybe not a louder voice but more an impact on human values for example, Makhubela, where I worked with him at the previous club. If you want the best out of him, you must have a human touch with him," Ncikazi said speaking on Bucs Camp.
"An example, he had one week where he was not training well and we were playing a big match and when I made contact with him, he said 'coach, trust me' and at the end of the match [he won] Man of the Match, [with] 13 kilometers covered.
"The reason for that, he said, 'you know what, I see you as a father because when they have these ceremonies you pop in'. Players start developing that attachment that they don't see you as a coach, which is one area where I think we're lacking."
"In the factors of performance, we always mention technique, tactical, psychological but we lose this important part of seeing players as human beings," he added.
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Since joining Pirates last season, Makhubela has made just 12 appearances in all competitions.
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