Mamelodi Sundowns 20-year-old defender Malibongwe Khoza has been consistent for the Premier Soccer League champions this season.
Despite his tender age, the towering centre-back has been excellent for Masandawana. In the ongoing campaign, he has featured in 20 games across all competitions. However, the youngster has not featured in recent back-to-back games against Orlando Pirates and TS Galaxy respectively.
New signing Argentine Lucas Suarez has been playing in the aforementioned matches. Coach Miguel Cardoso has since explained why Khoza did not play against Bucs and the Rockets.
‘We are protecting our asset'
“Mali has been making a wonderful season, and we should remember that it's his first full professional season, let's say, and he became very important due to the fact that he showed [an adequate] level when he was called [upon],” he responded when asked about the player.
“So we feel very happy about his development, we trust him so much, and we know that he's an asset, but he's also an asset that we should protect in certain moments.
“And that's exactly what has happened, but, at the same time, it's clear that competition is very tight in that position, and eventually Mothobi will be rejoining the group and he will also increase the level of that competition.”
‘Stonger Khoza will come back into the starting XI'
Kanu Cupido is another new defender signed by Cardoso; however, he remains upbeat Khoza will eventually step up. The Portuguese has further justified his decision by explaining Lebusa's situation.
“Not only Mali has stayed out, Mosa [Lebusa] also played several games with us – and [did] very well, and basically we are happy with the performances,” the former Esperance coach stated.
“For sure Mali will come back into the team, but he'll come back naturally with the level of rotation that we'll need to apply so that we can be competitive all the time. We are, as I said and I'll repeat, very happy with him, he'll be a very important asset not only for the club, but also for South African football, and we'll continue to work hard with to make him even stronger.
“I think he can be even stronger in the future, and that will also come from the learning process he gets from the coaches, but also from his teammates. He has high-level [competition] for the position also, which obliges him to work hard, and he has very good examples on his side for what it is to play in that position, so he'll get very strong and remain a very important player,” Cardoso concluded.
