Nkosingiphile Ngcobo wants to make the number ten shirt his own at Kaizer Chiefs this season, and he is not hiding it. The midfielder heads into the 2026/27 campaign under new head coach Fernando Da Cruz with a clear personal mission — cement a regular starting berth and stop being the man who makes way for others.

Overcoming Limited Playing Time

Ngcobo was open about the frustration of limited game time under the previous coaching setup, where rotation in midfield kept him from stringing together consistent minutes. A pre-season training camp in Spain has sharpened his focus. Speaking ahead of the new PSL season, he said he felt confident and motivated after the demanding sessions abroad. He described the camp as a genuine challenge — one he used to grow as a player and as a person — and believes the squad as a whole will carry real momentum out of it.

Toyota Cup Audition Against Scottland FC

The first test of that preparation comes on Sunday against Scottland FC, the Zimbabwean champions, in the Toyota Cup. The fixture carries extra flavour because Scottland's squad includes former Amakhosi fan favourites Knowledge Musona and Khama Billiat. Ngcobo acknowledged the pre-season nature of the game but was clear-eyed about the difficulty. He is looking forward to meeting his old connections on the pitch, and he wants the Amakhosi faithful to pack the stadium to witness it. The match will be televised live on SABC 1.

Da Cruz begins his first full campaign in the Naturena dugout, and Sunday's Toyota Cup clash is as much an audition as it is a warm-up. For Ngcobo, performing here is step one of proving he belongs in that starting eleven from the very first Betway Premiership kick-off.