In an open admission following Stellenbosch FC's debut match against Kaizer Chiefs, Gavin Hunt discusses Njabulo Blom.

After midfielder Njabulo Blom's stellar Betway Premiership debut against his former club, Kaizer Chiefs, Stellenbosch FC head coach Gavin Hunt gave Blom his stamp of approval.

Despite playing the entire match, Blom did not score as Stellenbosch FC and Amakhosi played to a 1-1 draw at FNB Stadium on Tuesday, October 13. There were worries about the 26-year-old midfielder's match fitness following a long absence of regular competitive football, but he showed promising signs that could establish himself as a key player for the Cape Winelands team.

Looking around the field, Hunt was impressed by the former Bafana Bafana international's physical presence and technical skill. The veteran coach did concede, though, that Blom will require some time to regain his composure.

After the game, Hunt discussed his time spent working with Blom at Kaizer Chiefs, where the two had played together before, and how Hunt was infamous for shifting Blom's position from fullback to central midfielder.

When Hunt was at Chiefs, he had Blom, and he was fantastic in central midfield after being moved from fullback.

The Stellenbosch coach was so encouraged by the midfielder's performance that he reflected on their time together at Naturena and said that he hoped the player could replicate that success for his current squad.

Even though Blom hasn't had much playing time recently, Hunt still thinks his skills were on display in the match.

Even though Njabulo hasn't played in a long time, his power is still evident. We need someone with his midfield power and some quality, and he has that. "I have faith in his ability to improve," he continued.

The coach acknowledged that Blom was taken off guard on multiple occasions during the match, emphasizing the need for the player to adapt while he regains his match fitness.

Despite this, Hunt maintained his optimism regarding the midfielder's potential future impact, thinking that Stellenbosch will benefit from his physical prowess and experience as the season progresses.

In September, Blom sought regular football after stints abroad and joined Stellenbosch FC on a season-long loan from Indonesian club Borneo Samarinda. Along with his return, he reconnected with Hunt, a coach who is familiar with his abilities and can bring out his best performance.

Stellenbosch took the lead through Sinoxolo Kwayiba just after halftime against Chiefs, but the hosts equalized through Mduduzi Shabalala.

Stellenbosch picked up a crucial away point, while Chiefs' winless streak in the league grew to three matches.

Blom sees the debut as a positive first step in making a comeback to South African football. The midfielder, who has Hunt's support, will now work to hone his skills and become an integral part of Stellenbosch's midfield.

https://x.com/KickOffMagazine/status/2110657061067391290