Deprecated: str_replace(): Passing null to parameter #3 ($subject) of type array|string is deprecated in /home/zbyiujsu/public_html/wp-content/plugins/jnews-social-share/class.jnews-initial-counter.php on line 40
Deprecated: str_replace(): Passing null to parameter #3 ($subject) of type array|string is deprecated in /home/zbyiujsu/public_html/wp-content/plugins/jnews-social-share/class.jnews-initial-counter.php on line 40
Deprecated: str_replace(): Passing null to parameter #3 ($subject) of type array|string is deprecated in /home/zbyiujsu/public_html/wp-content/plugins/jnews-social-share/class.jnews-initial-counter.php on line 40
Deprecated: str_replace(): Passing null to parameter #3 ($subject) of type array|string is deprecated in /home/zbyiujsu/public_html/wp-content/plugins/jnews-social-share/class.jnews-initial-counter.php on line 40
Mamelodi Sundowns coach Rulani Mokwena has described Sipho Mbule as an incredible footballer, and discussed his positional switch at Downs.
Mbule came on as late substitute in the second half as Downs beat his former club SuperSport United 1-0 in the Tshwane Derby at Loftus Stadium on Monday night.
It was Downs’ 11th league win on the bounce, stretching their lead at the top of the log to 14 points after reaching 43 points in 17 matches, equalling the same number of points as they had last season this time.
It was Mbule’s 11th appearance this season, nine from the bench and only two starts thus far, but still Mokwena had huge praise for the former SuperSport’s attacking midfielder, who he sees as a central midfielder, and not an attacker as many think.
“People think I’m crazy and people thought I was crazy when we played Musa Nyatama at six at Orlando Pirates,” said Mokwena.
“So Sipho Mbule, in my opinion, is a six. Eight at the most, but in how we want to construct things and schemes, Sipho Mbule has this pose and press resistance to be able to beat the press with the 10 – an incredible footballer that boy.
“But he has to be very strong [because] he’s a talented human being. Maybe one of your former colleagues [Hosea Ramphekwa] has the book called ‘Talented, Haunted and Hunted‘, I want to get that book for Sipho Mbule because that is very, very true.
“The most talented human beings you can go to, [the late] Whitney Houston, your [late] Michael Jackson and because you are talented, sometimes you have got so many knives that are for you and some of them are even close to you.
“Sipho needs all the love and support that he can receive because it is not only our responsibility towards Mamelodi Sundowns, but it is our responsibility to make sure that these players in our country are playing professional football so that they can help the national team.”
Mbule, who was signed at the beginning of the season from SuperSport, was already proving to be troublesome at the Tshwane giants before he was snatched by Sundowns.
He was suspended by the club last season because of ill-discipline, with SuperSport CEO Stan Matthews blasting him publicly many times.
Mbule showed his talent at SuperSport in 2017 under Eric Tinkler, scoring a blinding goal in the CAF Confederation Cup final against TP Mazembe in Lubumbashi in the first leg. But sadly SuperSport lost the final in the second leg.