Cape Town - Former Kaizer Chiefs attacking midfielder Siyabonga Nkosi believes that Hendrick Ekstein must improve his off-the-ball work, awareness and scoring ability to be an effective playmaker.
Nkosi, who played over 40 games for the Glamour Boys from 2012 until 2015 before retiring, takes the view that for the 26-year-old to succeed, he needs to work on key aspects of his game.
Ekstein has polarised opinion in South Africa, with some believing he is not of the right calibre to play in the 10 role for Chiefs. Others say that age is against him as he is already 26 and has not made more than 30 professional appearances in his career.
However, the more positive viewpoint is that he has vast potential as a playmaker and ought to be given time. As such, Nkosi says he must improve some technical and tactical parts of his game.
He told Kickoff Magazine: "There are three areas that you need to be contributing to the team as an offensive player.
"You need to get into the right position for a scoring opportunity, or the right position to set up a teammate.
"Then there is the scoring of goals. In the playmaker role in any side you need to be contributing with goals.
"The third thing I spoke to him about was always being a threat, never letting the intensity level drop."