Rowan Human, a former Kaizer Chiefs target, has opened up about his decision to turn down a move to Naturena in favor of joining AmaZulu.
Human, who made his name at Bidvest Wits and Maritzburg United, was a highly sought-after player, and it seemed like a natural step to move to a club like Chiefs.
However, he explained that his family and the arrival of coach Pablo Franco at AmaZulu played significant roles in his choice.
Human revealed to iDiski Times that after discussing the potential move with his family, his parents expressed concerns about him returning to Johannesburg.
“They were really scared that I might get sucked into the lifestyle of Johannesburg,” Human said.
His parents were worried he might get distracted by the environment, particularly the influences in Westbury, a part of Johannesburg.
They felt he would be safer in Durban, where AmaZulu is based, and that the club would offer him an environment conducive to both personal and professional growth.
Influence of Coach Pablo Franco
Another important factor in Human’s decision was the appointment of Pablo Franco as AmaZulu’s head coach.
Franco, a Spanish coach, presented an opportunity for Human to learn from someone with a style of football he greatly admired.
“La Liga is a league I love watching, so when I saw there was a Spanish coach, I thought there was something to learn here,” Human explained.
He saw it as a chance to enhance his understanding of football and develop under a coach who followed the philosophy of Spanish football, known for its technical and tactical style.
This aspect of his development was something Human didn’t want to miss out on.
Kaizer Chiefs’ Struggles with Glody Lilepo’s Position
Meanwhile, Kaizer Chiefs coach Nasreddine Nabi has commented on the struggles of winger Glody Lilepo, who has had difficulty finding his place in the team’s setup.
While Lilepo has played on the wings, Nabi isn’t convinced that switching him to a more central role, such as a number nine, would solve the team’s issues up front.
Nabi explained that while Lilepo’s natural position is on the wing, he has occasionally been used as a second striker during his time in France with Valenciennes.
Despite this, Nabi believes it’s important to give players the freedom to adapt, but he’s not sure that the winger will thrive in a central position.
“I wanted to push Pule Mmodi as a winger, with more strikers on the pitch,” Nabi said.
He believes this tactical switch created more chances, but the team still struggled to find the back of the net.
Nabi’s focus remains on ensuring that players are utilized in the positions that best suit their skill sets, but also adapting when necessary to maximize offensive opportunities.
Kaizer Chiefs to Expand Their Transfer Strategy
In other news surrounding Kaizer Chiefs, Nabi shared insights into the club’s new transfer strategy, which focuses on targeting players from abroad.
He acknowledged that local clubs in South Africa are often unwilling to sell to Chiefs, which has led the club to look beyond the country’s borders for fresh talent.
A recent example of this approach is Thabo Cele, who joined Kaizer Chiefs in January after leaving his Russian club, FC Fakel Voronezh.
“We know the competition is tough, and it’s hard to sign players from other clubs in South Africa,” Nabi explained.
“So, we need to change our strategy, and we have a new plan for that.”
He emphasized that the club is focusing on bringing in players who fit the profile of their game model rather than just signing big names.
While Nabi doesn’t want to bring in too many new faces, he stresses the importance of quality over quantity in the team’s recruitment efforts.