Mamelodi Sundowns coach Manqoba Mngqithi has dismissed suggestions they are being rushed to start new signings Marcelo Allende and Abubeker Nassir.
Both forwards have enjoyed impressive starts to life at Sundowns, scoring two goals in two substitute appearances and adding a new dimension to an already star-studded attack.
With their immediate impact, there have been calls for the players to start games but Mngqithi suggested they still need to be assessed to see if they can handle the intensity of playing from the start.
“I wouldn’t really feel there’s a temptation to start them, I think it will probably be based on the processes that we are following inside in terms of the number of minutes that we think they can play,” he said in the pre-match press conference.
“If we feel they are ready to give us the ninety minutes, we might decide to start them because it was never an issue of whether they can start or not, it was mainly an issue of how far they can go in a match.
“They have played two matches as substitutes, the possibility of them, or one of them starting is there – but we have to see what happens in the matchday minus one training.”
Mngqithi also stated that there’s been no issues or rocking or the proverbial boat of the new quality additions of the squad as they are aware that there will be a long gruelling campaign ahead to compete on all fronts domestically and on the continent.
“We are fortunate because we don’t have fringe players, so we don’t have those problems, everyone gets a chance to play in this team because we believe in all of them, we don’t keep players who we don’t think will influence the outcomes [of the games],” he added.
“The players know we have a very big cake that we must cut nicely for everyone to get a share.”
Masandawana face off against SuperSport United again for the Tshwane Derby as they return to DStv Premiership action on Friday evening at the Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium (19h30).
