Ever since he joined Kaizer Chiefs from Stellenbosch FC, Ashley Du Preez hasn’t really lived up to expectations.
His performances have left Amakhosi fans wondering whether he is just another scouting mistake.
But the forward seems to have found a new lease on life recently.
Ashley Du Preez has scored five goals in nineteen games for Amakhosi this season, providing two assists.
Two of those goals came in Kaizer Chiefs’s last three games, against Royal AM in the league, and Maritzburg United in the Nedbank Cup.
After Saile’s arrival, Du Preez looks like a completely different player. Something that has led some Amakhosi fans to believe that they can form a deadly combination upfront, to solve Amakhosi’s goal-scoring problems.
Also Read: Ramovic Throws A Left Hook On Mosimane For Defending Vila
What Zwane once said about Du Preez.
After Ashley Du Preez had a howler of a game against Marumo Gallants early in the season, a frustrated Arthur Zwane was not impressed at all.
“But I don’t think Ashley [Du Preez] understood what we wanted him to do, we said when Caleb goes, don’t follow him, just stay in the pockets
“You going to get those balls for free there and that’s why we had to bring on Sabelo [Radebe], Sabelo understands those pockets.
“But also he [Du Preez] wanted to carry the ball, sometimes when he doesn’t carry the ball, he just kicks the ball forward and it’s unlike him.”
Zwane’s sentiments were echoed by many Amakhosi fans, who felt Du Preez was just a speedy Gonzalez, full of running but no football brains.
Also Read: Latest News Round-Up: Benni McCarthy Keeps Scoring More Praises At Manchester United
Du Preez founds his match.
In new signing, Christian Saile Basomboli, Ashley Du Preez seems to have found a suitable strike partner upfront, and looks more inspired in his performances than he was with Caleb Bimenyimana.
Like Du Preez, Saile is quick, but more well-rounded in his qualities than Du Preez, he possesses a good football brain, which shows in his intelligent runs and positioning, and his finishing is excellent.
While Du Preez might lack some important qualities as a striker, he is always a handful for defenders to deal with.
With two of them upfront, complimented by a Mduduzi Shabalala or Dolly on his good day, Amakhosi can be unstoppable.
