Why Maduka prefers Mfundo Thikazi as second-half substitute

Royal AM head coach John Maduka has opened up on why he prefers to introduce Mfundo Thikazi in the second half rather than starting him.

The young left-footer has grown accustomed to not seeing his name in the first line-up and become a second-half game-changer for Thwihli Thwahla.

He was of help once again when he came on in the second stanza in a DStv Premiership match against Orlando Pirates at the Orlando Stadium on Wednesday. Royal AM scored a late equaliser via Menzi Masuku, who haunted his former team to salvage a point for his side.

“Why Thikazi doesn’t start?” This question was posed to Maduka after the match.

The Malawian tactician stated that in a couple of games where they started the 23-year-old, they discovered that he struggled somewhat. 

JOHN MADUKA ON WHY MFUNDO THIKAZI DOESN’T START

“There are a couple of games that we have started Thikazi, remember he’s still a young boy coming up,” said Maduka.

“There are those that he played well but we strongly believe that whenever he comes on from the bench, which is something that we’re not proud of, a player of his calibre we want him to start and finish the game because he’s a good player. 

“But those games we tried [to start] him, he seemed to be struggling at times, which we know that with time, he will be okay.

“He will be fine whereby he plays the 90 minutes. But with him coming in as a sub, we always know that he will give us something because he’s a player that can take on the opposition.”

Maduka says it’s rare to identify a player like Thikazi in South Africa, an offensive player who thinks of a goal immediately when reaching the final third.

‘WE’D LOVE TO USE Mfundo Thikazi MORE’

“In the final third, what he thinks of is to score, very entertaining boy,” Maduka continued. 

“It’s good to have him in our team. Like I said we’d love to use him more, playing the whole game because he possesses so much danger whenever he’s in the final third.

“I think there are few South African players that are like him when they are in the final third to think of scoring goals. Whenever he’s in there, what he thinks is to finish.”

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