Bambanani Mbane’s new Sundowns Ladies role explained

Sundowns Ladies’ head coach, Jerry Tshabalala, has explained Banyana Banyana’s defender, Bambanani Mbane’s new role at the club.

Sundowns took on UWC Ladies in a top-of-the-table clash on Sunday, 14 May. Banyana Ba Style won 3-0 and reclaimed first place on the Hollywoodbets Super League log table.

Coming into this game, Sundowns Ladies were in second place, two points behind UWC Ladies, who were at the summit on 33 points.

In this game, Sundowns made six changes to the starting line-up that played against Coal City Wizards.

And Banyana’s defender, Mbane, was one of the changes that started against UWC Ladies. However, she started in an unfamiliar position.

Mbane is naturally a centre-back, however, against UWC, she started as a defensive midfielder.

Sundowns head coach, Tshabalala, explained to FARPost, why he and his technical team opted to play Mbane in midfield.

JERRY TSHABALALA ON THE DECISION TO PLAY MBANE IN MIDFIELD

“We know that Mbane is one of the top players. She has been winning some battles at the back.” said Tshabalala.

“So, I thought about it and said ‘why not play Mbane in the centre of the park, where I think she will dominate

“And she managed to dominate, and I must say credit must go to the technical team.”

Tshabalala also explained that having Mbane paired up with Nonhlanhla Mthandi, help with their press and made the game easier for them.

“When you at the way we pressed them [UWC], they could play from the back. So they had to hove everything up.

“We hand Mbane and Mthandi who won all the second balls in the middle of the park and it made things easier for us,” concluded the Sundowns head coach.

Sundowns takes on UJ FC next in their Hollywoodbets Super League game, and it will be interesting to see if the profound defender, Mbane, continues in her role as a midfielder.

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