Mamelodi Sundowns’ lukewarm start to the Betway Premiership season against Chippa United has been put down to team selection.
The Tshwane giants took the lead via Arthur Sales in the first half, only for promising talent Khaya Mfecane to level matters as the sides settled for a share of the spoils at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday.
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"Sundowns are slowly changing in the way they select their team," notes a disappointed John Tlale.
"I mean, how do you keep a player like Peter Shalulile on the bench when you are looking for a goal and choose to depend on youngsters?
"These youngsters are good players, but you can't rely on them. It's the experienced players who must start for the team.
"You can introduce these young boys slowly as time goes by. I think the Sundowns coaching staff is now starting to prefer youngsters more, so now there is no more combination of Shalulile and Iqraam Rayners up front.
“At the end of the day, we all know what Shalulile can do for Sundowns,” he goes on.
The former multiple league winner at The Brazilians says even though the Namibian’s form in front of goal may have dipped, he deserves another chance.
"Now that ‘Mshishi’ [Themba Zwane] is back, Peter Shalulile is out, and now Khuliso Mudau is no longer in the team... I don't know what is happening there.
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"All this is gonna affect the team, it's not the right time to ignore your senior players."
Miguel Cardoso’s troops get a chance to redeem themselves against AmaZulu FC at Loftus Versfeld Stadium (19:30).
Photo by Michael Sheehan/Gallo Images
