Manqoba Mngqithi names potential Themba Zwane heir

Mamelodi Sundowns co-coach Manqoba Mngqithi has singled out the one player they promoted to the senior with the view of succeeding Themba Zwane.

The Sundowns talisman, Zwane, 33, has been the team’s driving force for the last couple of seasons, weighing in with all-important goals and assists.

Mngqithi has since revealed the academy player “close to Themba Zwane”.

CLOSE TO THEMBA ZWANE

“I want to reaffirm in front of all of you that he [Siphelele Mkhulise] is one the most talented players. I’m not talking because he is here,” Mngqithi told journalists.

“The reason why we promoted him is that we wanted something closer to Themba Zwane. Someone that would help us in the attacking third.

He pointed out where the 26-year-old midfielder needed to improve to get to the level of Zwane.

“His game has been lacking either assisting the assist or assisting or scoring.

“That is what we have been working hard on. That is what we have been trying.

“Probably out of all of you, less than 50% of you know that he is such a good dribbler.

“Very few people know that because he’s an introvert and not as arrogant as we would like him to be.

“A little bit of arrogance for offensive players makes them always be in positions that will determine the game’s results,” added Mngqithi.

 MAKE THE TEAM PLAY

The 51-year-old mentor further gave the impression of a player who could potentially carry Sundowns as a talisman soon.

“In terms of establishing play, consolidating our play, he’s one player we know when we’re not doing very well, we’ve always gone back to him and said ‘make the team play’.”

With goals and assists in his game, Mngqithi believes the Sundowns academy graduate would be undroppable.

Mkhulise was on target over the weekend when Sundowns beat Seychelles outfit La Passe 7-0 in the first leg, second round of the CAF Champions League.

“All these matrix [goals, assists and runs into the box], if they are not coming right for an offensive player, it creates problems for the player.

“Fortunately, he’s a boy that I speak a lot with, and I can see the improvement.”

Sundowns play La Passe at Loftus Stadium on Friday in the return leg. Kick-off is at 5:30pm.