Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Rulani Mokwena has given an update on the status of Lucas Ribeiro after the Brazilian striker went off injured in Saturday’s CAF Champions League game against Bumamuru.
Sundowns booked their place in the CAFCL Group Stages with a 2-0 win, and 6-0 aggregate victory over their Burundian opposition.
However Ribeiro was an early casualty, and was replaced after just ten minutes on Saturday.
Mokwena said that while he was still being assessed, he had hopes that the injury wasn’t too serious and Ribeiro would be available for Saturday’s MTN8 final against Orlando Pirates.
“Not yet, he’s under assessment, and we’ll see,” Mokwena said.
“But I don’t think it’s that serious.”
When asked if he was satisfied with the team’s overall performance, Mokwena said yes, but the team does need training sessions to keep improving, which is not easy with that packed schedule, so Mokwena is looking forward to the international break after the MTN8 final.
“The only way to improve this team is training, and I can’t ask for more sessions, because we’ve got so many games,” Mokwena said.
“So I’m a little bit excited that we’ve got a neutral week next week in terms of training and to try together, and this team needs to train.
“But yeah, for sure, I’m always asking for more from the players and they always try to give more to improve and even the final third, that it takes time.
“We want to have some form of principles and schemes but to do that you need them to play longer together. Maseko needs so much coaching.
“And then the injuries also don’t assist because now you’ve got to look after Peter, you’ve got to look at If the Lucas and they have to play together to form cohesion and then you lose some of these players, but the basic answer to your question, ‘Am I satisfied with the performance?’ Yes I am.”
