Ngcobo has been ruled out for the rest of the season after suffering an Achilles tendon rupture in Chiefs’ 1-1 stalemate away to SuperSport United earlier this month.
The 19-year-old former reserve team skipper had just recently broke into the senior team and enjoyed a promising rise under coach Ernst Middendorp, who handed him his PSL debut against Maritzburg United following his displays with Amajita at the under-20 AFCON.
He has since undergone surgery to repair the damage to his heel, with team doctor Hashendra Ramjee having mapped the way forward over the next six months.
“The surgery went well,” Ramjee said on Chiefs’ website. “At this stage the focus is to recoup from the surgery, before we enter the stage of recovery.”
Ngcobo is set to miss the upcoming FIFA U-20 World Cup in Poland, where South Africa have been drawn alongside Argentina, Portugal and South Korea in the group stages, which kick-off May 23.
The Glamour Boys also have another youth graduate Happy Mashiane still on the mend after he fractured a bone in his foot a month ago, and was subsequently ruled out for four weeks.
Itumeleng Khune and Erick Mathoho are the other casualties at present, with Lebogang Manyama and Joseph Molangoane having returned to training.