Tanzanian football expert, Salim Said has backed Ghanaian International James Kotei to be handed a starting role at South African side Kaizer Chiefs when the 2019/2020 season commences.
The player recently joined the ABSA Premier Soccer League (PSL) side from Simba SC and is expected to be an integral part of the team in the upcoming season.
During his days at Simba SC, he helped them to win the Tanzanian Premier League title and played in all the matches of the side during their campaign in the CAF Confederations cup where they managed to reach the quarter-finals.
Football expert Salim Said followed the player when he was playing for Simba SC and has shared that he is confident the player will get a starting role at Kaizer Chiefs because he is a player that can restore balance and organization to the PSL side.
“James Kotei is a solid defensive midfielder that you can count on to do a job at the heart of midfield with minimal fuss”.
“It’s the dirty work, such as the pressing of opponents, the blocks and tackles, at Simba that have enhanced his reputation”.
“He has been willing to do that dirty work in a team with an attacking brand of football and that is sometimes top-heavy. He has at times played at center-back with typical solidity”, Salim Said indicated in an interview with KickOFF.com.
He continued, “Off the pitch, Kotei’s fantastic social media use has won the hearts of Simba fans and Tanzanians”.
“From humurous content posted in local language Swahili, to donning the Tanzania national team shirt and going to the stadium to cheer them on and calling himself James Magufuli [after the country’s president], to the classy goodbye message he posted upon his departure”.
“He took to Tanzania and Tanzania and Simba took to him”.
James Kotei is currently having pre-season training with Kaizer Chiefs and is in good shape ahead of the season ahead.