Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Yusuf Maart isn’t making a big deal out of being overlooked for captaincy in the absence of vice-captain Keagan Dolly this season, having been preferred by previous coach Arthur Zwane last season.
Itumeleng Khune is Chiefs’ captain but his exclusion from the starting line-up in recent times has seen his deputy Dolly skipper the side. In Dolly’s absence last season, Maart donned the armband.
However, things have been different this season as new coach Molefi Ntseki has opted for goalkeeper Brandon Peterson to lead the side as Dolly is yet to feature as he’s recovering from a long-term injury. Peterson has skippered Amakhosi in all seven games they’ve played across all competitions this season, with Maart starting all of them as well.
“There’s 11 players on the field and all of us are leaders. You can’t judge leadership by an armband. On my side, I am happy for Brandon. At the end of the day, we lead each other,” Maart said during the side’s media open-day looking ahead to tomorrow’s league tie against Royal AM at FNB Stadium, at their Naturena headquarters yesterday.
Maart, 28, is one of few players who have played almost every minute for Amakhosi thus far. The former Sekhukhune United skipper has insinuated the best is yet to come from him, heaping praise on his midfield partner and newcomer Edson Castillo, who’s been receiving rave reviews since he joined in the off-season.
“To be honest, I still have a lot to do as a player. Eventually, I will get there and put in the shifts that will show that I am a good player,” Maart noted.
“Castillo is a great player. The way he likes is something different in the team... his passes are amazing and brings a great difference in the team.”
Maart also insisted that he prefers to be used as an attacking midfielder rather than as a defensive weapon, having been used in both roles since joining Amakhosi from Babina Noko at the start of the previous season.
“I am more comfortable as a No 8 because I feel like a box-to-box type of a midfielder,” the soft-spoken Maart said.
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