Collins Mbesuma was being let down by his teammates' service in a period when Black Aces were struggling and is sure to score again soon now the side is on the up again, said Aces defender Ashraf Hendricks.

The tale of how Mbesuma regained his fitness to become the Absa Premiership's top scorer this season is well documented.

But the Zambian has been frozen on 13 goals, having last scored in Aces' 1-1 home draw against Pretoria University on March 12.

"I just think the players around him weren't complementing him because we were all going through a bit of a bad patch," Hendricks said yesterday of his captain's form.

"I don't think we can put it all on one player. He's a top- quality striker who scores goals. I think he's definitely coming into his own and will start scoring again."

Mbesuma was dropped from the starting line-up in Aces' 2-0 league win away at Maritzburg United on Friday night. Hendricks believes Aces are still perfectly capable of a best PSL finish (their previous highest was seventh in 2013-14), and perhaps even third place, in a sterling season under coach Muhsin Ertugral.

"I just think he has tactical and organisational skills like no coach I've ever worked with. The way he plans is madness. On a Tuesday and Wednesday we're analysing games for hours. And we've actually brought in youngsters," Hendricks said.