Former Mamelodi Sundowns star Wayne Arendse has hailed Brazilian playmaker Lucas Ribeiro for filling Themba Zwane’s shoes at the club.
Ribeiro has been the standout player in the PSL in the last two months, scoring seven goals while providing four assists in 12 games, as Sundowns have reached the Carling Knockout final, moved to second in the league and made it to the group stages of the CAF Champions League.
The Brazilian has been the man tasked with creativity at Sundowns and is seen as the long-term replacement for veteran attacker Zwane.
Indeed, Zwane had seen his opportunities limited this season before he suffered an Achilles injury while on international duty in October, which will keep him out for nearly five months, and Arendse feels Sundowns will cope without ‘Mshishi’ since Ribeiro has already stepped up to the plate.
Is Ribeiro the long-term replacement for Zwane?
“Ribeiro is something else. From day one he has been performing well in that Sundowns team, showing his quality,” Arendse told FARPost.
“I think he has filled Themba Zwane’s role very well after that long-term injury. He’s making those runs and makes the midfield click well.
“He has stepped up his performances in the team, now he’s the main man making the team play well. Up front, he has continued with his scoring form which is good to witness.”
Ribeiro joined Sundowns in 2023 and was a revelation, scoring 16 goals while providing nine assists, as they won a seventh straight PSL title as well as the inaugural African Football League and has similarly started 2024-25 in fine form.
