MANDLA Masango is something of an enigma at Kaizer Chiefs - you just never know which side of him is going to pitch on match day.

In his seven years with the Glamour Boys, coaches have raved about what a great talent he is, only to leave him out in the cold when they needed him to turn up.

At the weekend, the 25- year-old played himself back into Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter's good books by helping the club to a 4-0 drubbing of lacklustre Mpumalanga Black Aces in the MTN8 quarterfinal clash at FNB Stadium, scoring a second-half brace.

Baxter has been baffled by Masango's inconsistency for some time, but having spent two full seasons with the winger, the Englishman offered insights into how the player can reach his full potential.

"I think Mandla is a good player, a good talent. We sometimes don't manage to get him turned around enough," said Baxter, who confirmed that Masango nearly went out on loan.

"We end up with him playing with his back to goal far too much. And if he's doing that, and not being able to time his movements and to drive at players, taking them on, then most wide players struggle.

"Mandla has been in and out in that respect, probably not just in the time that I have been here. That has maybe been his problem. He got himself turned around very much against Aces and had a go at people, worked hard in his defending and his timing of his movement was good. When he does that he is a very good player."

Masango scored on debut against Thanda Royal Zulu in Chiefs' victory in August 2007 under Muhsin Ertugral, the man responsible for promoting him to the first team.

Ertugral, whose last coaching job in SA was at Ajax Cape Town, used social media to praise the player following his two goals against AmaZayoni.

He said Masango's progress had been halted by his successors, who did not give the speedster "more chances to prove himself". Baxter might have figured him out.