Before the session starts, a handful are selected to handle interviews ahead of the team’s Absa Premiership clash against Black Leopards.

Kingston Nkatha is one of them and he cuts an awestruck figure as if he did not expect to be among the players to be interviewed.

He holds his hand on his cheek and tries to talk to a passing by George Lebese. “Dude,” he said. “What do you want?” Lebese asks by way of brushing Nkatha aside.

Nkatha finally makes his way to the group of journalists who surround him like lions on prey.

The attention on the Zimbabwean is mainly because Amakhosi face his former club and due to being a surprise addition to the club during the off-season. “Kingston brings out the physical aspect in our play.

He is more of your box-to-box striker,” coach Stuart Baxter said of Nkatha who has scored twice for Amakhosi .

Lidoda Duvha visit FNB Stadium tonight, and Nkatha is expected to lead the Chiefs’ attack as Bafana’s Bernard Parker may be rested or at best given a cameo role. “I am ready for the match against my old club,” Nkatha said.

“It will be interesting to play against them but I am up for the challenge.” This is the player’s fifth season in the country, having turned out for Free State Stars and Leopards before his move to Chiefs.

For the past four years, he admits, he knew Chiefs was a big team and that playing for them came with unwanted attention. “It will always be there. Pressure is there every time you step onto the field and it is not different here at Chiefs.

Facing Leopards will not be easy as they know my strengths and weaknesses. But I also know theirs, so it will be tricky,” he said. Nkatha’s latent talent is known but the missing element in his game is consistency and he has not yet won the Lesley Manyathela Golden Boot – something which underlines a striker’s qualities.

“That is every striker’s dream and I am also no different. I am hoping to achieve it in my career though I will not say it is my target. I do not have targets. I just want to win trophies,” he added.

Siphiwe Tshabalala is a doubtful starter for Baxter having suffered a mild injury against Mozambique in Bafana’s friendly international on Tuesday. His absence may interfere with Baxter’s plans.