Mamelodi Sundowns co-coach Manqoba Mngqithi, has singled out the player who he believes will be key for Sundowns against Pirates. The two sides face each other in the highly anticipated MTN8 second leg semi-finals at Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday.
After failing to register not even a shot on target against Pirates in the first leg, Mngqithi has identified the player who will be vital offensively for Sundowns.
The Buccaneers come to this encounter with their tails high, after an emphatic 2-0 victory against Golden Arrows in the DStv Premiership on Tuesday.
However, the Brazilians joint coach believes that his side possess enough quality in their squad to overcome the Soweto giants.
“Khuliso Mudau is one of the best full backs in the country, I’m not saying so because he’s my player,” Mngqithi told the media at Chloorkop.
“I think in the game against La Passe he had two assists and against Marumo Gallants, if you look at the game closely, there was one free kick we took and played behind the full backs, and he played a very good cut back, but unfortunately both Gaston Sirino and TebogoMokoena, they were both a bit ahead of the ball.
“But the ball where it was put yesterday, I just wish it can be put on Saturday, because I believe it will give us shot at goal.
“So I must speak on his behalf, sometimes playing in a stage like Orlando Stadium, that is packed to capacity, remember Mudau has been at Sundowns, probably now he’s in his third season, and that atmosphere at Orlando it is something that he has not seen before, because we played two seasons without the crowd, and for him to be in a match like that, it was a new experience, which is good for his growth.
“After that game he came back very strong, and he has proved this with his final third entries. Mudau is a full back that has a dribble, a full back that is strong aerially. The only area of his game that needs to improve is when he make a decision to cross. His crossing still has lot of question marks, but I’m optimistic that if he’s available for the Saturday game, he is the one guy that will help us to have more shot at goals,” the 51-year old mentor added.
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