Teboho Mokoena joining Mamelodi Sundowns from SuperSport United was arguably the biggest transfer of the PSL season so far and Teko Modise believes it will take his game to the next level.
The Bafana Bafana star divided opinion when he made the switch to their Tshwane rivals last month with two major factors being debated; his status as one of the nations’ finest players and the competition for places at Sundowns.
Sections of local football fans believed Mokoena should have opted for a move abroad instead of the lucrative switch to Chloorkop where they boast some of the countries best talent.
But Modise feels all is not lost for Mokoena’s rise to stardom as he’s likely to improve in a more competitive environment.
“I think most players, they don’t make it when they not put in the position where they need to compete week in week out and as some teams, at Sundowns you compete for every day,” Modise explained.
“You have so many superstars at the club that every training session becomes a match, if Teboho has that competitive mentality, it shouldn’t be very difficult for him to play.
“He’s aware of tactics and with tactics, you’ll only learn game by game you play. As a footballer, if you want to be great, you have to compete – that’s the nature of the game.
“If you wanna be an average player, you will be safe in your comfort zone, I think that discomfort will make Teboho a better player.”
Can Competition Lead To Bad Blood?
When probed by iDiski Times whether having a plethora of high-profile players in the same squad can cause divisions in a squad, Modise, who starred at Masandawana for six years shrugged off the suggestion.
Having won six titles at the club, including the CAF Champions League and two league winners’ medals he stared the comradery is there because everyone is ‘fighting for the same cause’ and everyone understands that they are there to compete with each other for the starting line-up.
“Nobody goes to Sundowns or any club trying to be on the bench, we want to play,” Modise said.
“We know that once you play you get confidence, you want to be contributing positively to the club and I think it’s important for Teboho or anyone to compete.
“We might be friends but at the end of the day what’s best – or what you’re brought there for is to compete and make the team stronger. Teboho coming in and the type of player that he is, I don’t think Sundowns have a player like him.”
Mokoena has featured in five games (1 start) and scored once since his move from Matsatsansa but looks set to play a crucial tole for the remainder of the 2021/22 campaign.
Story by Lorenz Kohler (@Lorenz-KO).
