Johnson’s Advice To Du Preez: ‘Stay Away From There’

Photo by Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images

Former Kaizer Chiefs head coach Cavin Johnson has suggested an advice to striker Ashley Du Preez to turnaround his confidence after criticism over missing a goal with an open net to aim at in the CAF Confederation Cup.

After Chiefs were held to a goalless draw by AS Simba in the Confederation Cup second preliminary round first-leg in Democratic Republic of Congo, although the match was not televised, video clips of Du Preez missing an open net close to goal went viral on social media.

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Amakhosi supporters heavily criticized the former Stellenbosch striker, particularly on social media, questioning whether the speedy forward has the quality to still play for The Glamour Boys, who have strengthened their strike-force in the previous transfer window with the likes of Flavio Silva, Khanyisa Mayo and Etiosa Ighodaro.

After that incident in Congo, Du Preez was dropped to the bench in the second-leg that Chiefs won 3-1 at home and did not make the match-day squad in subsequent league matches against Siwelele, Durban City and Orbit College.

Johnson, speaking exclusively to Soccer Laduma, has suggested that the 28-year-old forward has to stay away from his phone to focus and regain his confidence.

“Look, as far as that is concerned (criticism from supporters on social media), the player of today and especially when you play for Kaizer Chiefs, as a player, no matter what position you play, it’s about who you play for,” Johnson said to the Siya crew.

“Especially if you miss a goal, social media, the news, all of them, they are all over you. So as a player I think Ashley has to recover himself and stay away from those areas. Don’t look or read because Chiefs don’t only have Soccer Laduma and KickOff and SuperSport (covering them), no.

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“They have millions of supporters that are also reporters, you understand? So as a player I would suggest that he stays away from social media, switch his phone off completely, Instagram, Twitter, X, whatever, stay away from there.

“Concentrate on your game, stay out of there until you get into the space to do your work that you get paid for and that is to be on the field and score goals. That’s my suggestion to him,” the former Platinum Stars and SuperSport United head coach added.

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