All Sadie needs is confidence - Naka
by Brenden Nel 24 September 2012, 14:52
Vodacom Blue Bulls midfielder Johann Sadie might be having a nightmare year right now, but his new coach, Naka Drotske, can’t wait to get him to Bloemfontein.
Drotske said he believed all that Sadie needs now is confidence to take him back to the heights he experienced when he was playing in Cape Town, and that the Toyota Cheetahs would give him that.
Sadie has had loads of bad luck and his form has dropped since making the big money move to Pretoria. After two injuries in Super Rugby that made him miss the majority of the season, the midfielder then lost his position in the team before being dropped out of the match 22 altogether.
With the Blue Bulls struggling in the Absa Currie Cup competition, a similar thing happened there as well, as he disappeared out of the Blue Bulls line-up two weeks ago and hasn’t made a return yet.
Despite this, Sadie has a chance for redemption, especially as the Bulls did agree to release him after only one year of his three-year contract and he was quickly snapped up by the Cheetahs for the 2013 and 2014 seasons.
Drotske said Sadie’s form wasn’t a concern for him, as he believed the Cheetahs will make him feel more welcome than in Pretoria.
“It isn’t a concern for me, because all he needs is confidence,” Drotske explained.
“Take the example of Marius Joubert back in 2006 when Western Province didn’t want him anymore -- we know Johann is a good player, you can’t be a good player for one or two years and then just be nowhere. There is something wrong and I believe it is confidence. I believe we can give him that, we did that with Marius Joubert and in 2007 he started all the games and we won the Currie Cup. He really played well.
“I think the way we play, and the pattern we play will suit Johann much better. The future will prove whether I’m wrong or not--– I’m not sorry we signed him, he played well for Western Province last season and there is no reason to say he isn’t a good player anymore.”
Sadie will be hoping the move to Bloemfontein comes sooner rather than later, and that he can redeem himself and return to the playing heights that made him such a sought-after player around South Africa.
