Mamelodi Sundowns legend Hlompo Kekana has back Miguel Cardoso’s decision to sub Siphelele Mkhulise off during their match against Golden Arrows.
A tactical gamble by Cardoso at Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium changed the game.
Mkhulise made way for Shalulile, a move that sparked a flurry of goals. Shalulile won a penalty, coolly dispatched by Lucas Ribeiro Costa, and then added two of his own.
Teboho Mokoena completed the scoring with a fourth goal. “I loved it,” said Kekana, praising Cardoso's bold decision.
KEKANA ON MKHULISE FIRST HALF SUB – ‘I LOVED IT’
“I saw the reaction when the coach made that sub of Mkhulise and I loved it. I love it because he put more firepower up front because he saw that we don't have a problem with combination play,” Kekana said on the Pitchside Podcast.
“He saw it and I was like: ‘This is coaching'. I love it when I come to the stadium and watch teams that have solutions for other problems. I was happy because we didn't have any problem of retaining possession. Even when we lost it, we had players around to win it back.
“When they put Peter, it's a different story because he's a different character. I was happy to see that reaction and a positional shift for Ribeiro, (Kobamelo) Kodisang, (Iqraam) Rayners.
Selflessness. That reaction, 20 minutes towards half-time, players realised that actually we dragged the match too long, we need to get a goal.
“In a space of two minutes, there was an offside that I don't think was offside. When we got a penalty, it was a (culmination) of those attacks into the box.”
