Former Kaizer Chiefs defender Bradley Carnell has expressed his admiration for Njabulo Blom, highlighting the midfielder’s potential and quality.
Carnell, who coached Blom at St Louis City SC at the start of the 2023 season, believes Blom had a promising start to his Major League Soccer (MLS) career after being signed from Chiefs. However, due to a change in personnel, the Bafana Bafana player saw his position in the team drop.
After a loan move back to Kaizer Chiefs, Blom has struggled to regain the form that earned him the move to the US. Carnell attributes much of Blom’s inconsistency to injury setbacks.
“I think Jabs had a fantastic 2023 season,” Carnell shared with iDiski Times. “However, he faced some injury issues in 2024 and just couldn’t find his rhythm again. On his day, he can definitely be one of the top defensive midfielders in the league with his unique playing style.”
Blom’s Role Change Under Nabi
In a shift from his previous position, Blom has been deployed as a right-back by Kaizer Chiefs head coach Nasreddine Nabi since January. This tactical change has worked well for Blom, with the 25-year-old putting in solid performances and even securing a spot over regular right-back Reeve Frosler.
Blom’s loan with Chiefs will come to an end at the season’s close, and it’s uncertain whether he’ll return to St Louis City SC or remain in South Africa. At 25, Blom still has the potential to make his mark, and with his newfound freedom under Nabi’s guidance, he may choose to continue his journey with Kaizer Chiefs.
