'We had a problem with Nurkovic', says Kaitano Tembo

Cape Town - SuperSport United coach Kaitano Tembo believes Samir Nurkovic offers Kaizer Chiefs a different option with his aerial prowess and causes defences problems.

Serbian striker Nurkovic, who joined Chiefs at the beginning of July, grabbed his maiden Amakhosi goal in the 1-1 draw with Matsatsantsa at FNB Stadium on Saturday.

The 27-year-old has started all three of Chiefs' matches this season and has shown his quality with his vision, hold-up play, ability in the air and eye for goal.

With Nurkovic in the side, the Glamour Boys are able to change to a more direct style of play when needed and Tembo admitted that Chiefs are a different proposition with him in the side.

"I think we struggled with the ball over the top. With Nurkovic, a different type of player, strong in the air. He was winning everything," said Tembo.

“We had a problem dealing with him. I think he’s a very good striker and it was the first time our defence played against someone like that.

“He can hold the ball; he’s a good player technically as well and he’s also got a football brain. He makes the right decisions and he gave us a lot of problems.

“I think probably he could have grabbed a hat-trick if he had [been more clinical]; I saw he had two one-on-ones. But, to be fair, I think a draw was a fair result.”

Amakhosi mentor Ernst Middendorp echoed Tembo's sentiments and believes that the Soweto giants have acquired a gem.

“Samir is definitely a player with the potential to create, assist and his willingness is definitely there to score himself, but he has a certain brain capacity to see the runs of players,” Middendorp added.

“But let’s be fair, he’s totally in a new environment, coming from another continent and this is definitely something where, yes, I need to take onto my own shoulders - I’m overloading him a little bit at the moment because we need him.

“With Kearyn Baccus or James Kotei, I have a little bit of time to get the capacity to become options of coming in, but with Samir, currently, I have to think about what we’re doing on Tuesday.

“It’s very dangerous to load him in this way, I know it’s risky but he’s a very professional player and he’s doing everything possible to be prepared for the next game.”