Prominent agent Mike Makaab has explained why Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Samkelo Zwane is poised to impress new coach Nasreddine Nabi, tasked with returning the club back to winning trophies.
Chiefs made a complete overhaul of their technical team after their worst finish in the Premiership, where they ended in tenth place last season.
Therefore each player at Amakhosi has the opportunity to start on a clean-slate, with a coach who would be working in South Africa for the first time.
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Nabi, who has joined the Glamour Boys with his own coaching staff, is expected to implement different coaching methods, which are in line with European standards, after he also roped in Fernando Da Cruz, who has replaced the likes of Marcelo Bielsa at French giants Lille and was succeeded by coaches such as former Paris Saint-Germain tactician Christophe Galtier.
Despite his lack of game time last season at Amakhosi, Makaab, CEO of ProSport International, believes Zwane has all the attributes of a modern number six and tipped him to play a major role under the Tunisian mentor.
"You know when you look at the sixes, gone are the days, in my opinion, where your sixes have to be this aggressive ball-winning midfielder," Makaab explained to KickOff, in an exclusive interview.
"Yes, that is obviously one of the attributes, you've got to be able to win the ball in the heart of midfield. But more importantly as a modern six is you've got to be able to anticipate.
"You've got to anticipate situations, so be more proactive, than reactive, interceptions. Because when you intercept the pass, your next touch - and this is where the top sixes in the world are head and shoulders above the rest," Makaab said.
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"The next touch, can be a defence-splitting pass, because you're now on the front foot, you've anticipated, the ball has not bubbled around in the duel, you've won the ball and all of a sudden you've put your team into an attacking transition and that's where Samkelo has got incredible qualities.
"His ability to pass the ball long, cross the ball accurately short, is one of the important hallmarks, in my opinion, of a modern six," the experienced intermediary added.