TS Galaxy striker Samir Nurkovic says the nickname “Kokota Piano” still very much alive ahead of Carling Knockout semi-final against AmaZulu on Sunday.
Nurkovic inherited the name during his hot first season with Kaizer Chiefs, where he terrorised defenders and was banging in goals for fun.
He finished the 2019/20 season with 13 goals and provided six assists in 31 appearances.
Life has, however, not been the same after Chiefs as he found himself in a financial debacle with Royal AM, which led to him being club-less for months.
The 31-year-old has since revived his career at Galaxy under coach Sead Ramovic, his lookalike, where he is getting his goalscoring mojo again.
Speaking to the media at Sturrock Park training grounds at Wits University on Thursday, Nurkovic said the “Kokota Piano” name will always stay relevant.
“Just to correct you [laughs], I’m not going to relive the name because ‘Kokota piano’ will always be there no matter what,” Nurkovic said.
“But I am working hard in training and in games. I want to get back to where I was before – that prime and start scoring goals again because it is something that makes me very happy as a striker.”
R12m situation at Royal AM
“So being here at Galaxy brings happiness to me because I haven’t been on the field for a long time after my situation with Royal AM.”
Nurvokic was at loggerheads with Royal AM over contractual payment issues said to be at a region of R12-million.
Without giving much away about the status of the situation, Nurkovic said the matter is beyond his control and currently overseen by his legal team but delighted that he is back where he finds joy the most, which is the football field.
The Serbian will be looking to pick up from where he left off against Polokwane City. He came on as a late substitute and scored the third goal in injury time as Galaxy won 3-0 booked a spot in the final of the knockout competition.
