After Kaizer Chiefs’ 1-0 victory against Magesi FC on Tuesday night, head coach Nasreddine Nabi expressed confidence that Pule Mmodi has the potential to catch the attention of Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos.
Despite Mmodi’s ongoing struggles with finishing, Nabi believes that with some focused work, the winger could reach new heights in his career.
Mmodi has faced criticism for his lack of goals recently, notably missing two clear chances in the Magesi FC match.
However, Nabi emphasized that Mmodi’s all-around contributions to the team—whether in attack or defense—show significant promise.
The key for Mmodi’s success, according to Nabi, lies in improving his finishing ability.
Improving Finishing Could Lead to Big Opportunities
“About Pule, we work with him on finishing because we believe that if he improves on that, he’s going to be a very good player,” Nabi stated after the match.
He went on to highlight Mmodi’s strengths in one-on-one situations and his overall attacking prowess.
Nabi is hopeful that once Mmodi’s finishing clicks into place, he could become a strong contender for a starting spot with Bafana Bafana.
Though Mmodi has shown flashes of brilliance in his time at Kaizer Chiefs, his inconsistent ability to convert chances into goals has been a point of concern.
Mmodi’s Struggles This Season
This season, Mmodi has found the back of the net three times— all of which came in the Nedbank Cup.
However, his lack of a league goal in the Betway Premiership this season is telling.
He’s made 14 appearances across all competitions, but only 11 of those were in the league, and he hasn’t been able to deliver the kind of clinical performance Kaizer Chiefs needs from their forward players.
Over the course of his two seasons at the club, Mmodi has registered just seven goals and four assists.
Those numbers aren’t what you’d expect from a forward, especially one hoping to make an impact on the national team.
Can Mmodi Make It to Bafana Bafana?
Although Nabi’s approach to improving Mmodi’s confidence is admirable, it’s hard to make a strong case for Mmodi’s inclusion in the Bafana Bafana squad as things stand.
For Mmodi to earn regular call-ups, he would need to significantly improve his goal-scoring and assist numbers.
Simply put, his current performances don’t meet the necessary level for a spot in the national team.
Will Mmodi’s Finishing Improve?
Do you agree with Nasreddine Nabi’s optimism about Pule Mmodi’s future? Could improved finishing be the key to unlocking Mmodi’s potential, and perhaps even earning him a place in Bafana Bafana?