The relationship between Royal AM and former Kaizer Chiefs striker Samir Nurkovic is over.
The relationship between Royal AM and former Kaizer Chiefs striker Samir Nurkovic is over.
Nurkovic, according to iDiski Times sources, has not trained with the club for two weeks, with reasons given to the club’s coaches – Abram Nteo and Khabo Zondo, but they have refused to divulge them publicly.
The end of Nurkovic at Royal AM is a sorry state for the player’s career in SA, as at one point was regarded as one of the best forwards in Mzansi.
But the past two seasons things have gone south due to injuries and the loss of form, leading him to leave Kaizer Chiefs at the end of last campaign to join the KwaZulu-Natal club during the off season.
Club boss Shauwn Mkhize was happy to have captured the Serbian striker, who almost led Chiefs to the league title in the 2019/20 season, saying his height and physique was what they needed when it comes to the CAF Confederation Cup.
However, he arrived in the team carrying an injury and then aggravated it, which infuriated the club’s bosses.
Nurkovic looked to have recovered and played a friendly match for Royal AM, the Macufe Cup, lasting for 71 minutes before he was taken off against his former club in September.
As he looked fit on that occasion – bulldozing defenders, showing his trademark game of hold-up play and constantly clashing with opponents, Nurkovic was expected to return to the squad and make his proper debut for the club – but that never came, and he leaves without kicking a ball officially for Royal AM.
Nteo, just like his co-coach Zondo, says the issue of Nurkovic is beyond his pay grade when asked what is the real issue with a bustling striker.
“You can ask the people who are on top of me,” said Nteo at the club’s training venue at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Monday ahead of their second leg of the CAF Confederation Cup playoff against TP Mazembe on Wednesday.
“I’m not sure what is happening, but they will give you a good answer.”
When pressed about whether Nurkovic will play for the club in the future or never again, Nteo declined to comment yet again.
“He’s a good player, he’s a good player,” Nteo answered sarcastically back.
To add salt to the wound, Nurkovic was not training with the club also on Monday at the Moses Mabhida Stadium, a clear indication that his future with Royal AM is over.
Another source said that Nurkovic is already in Gauteng, weighing up his options for his next move.
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