sportskeeda
Mamelodi Sundowns’ coach Manqoba Mngqithi shares his contentment with Arthur Sales’ impact on the team and looks forward to even greater contributions in the future.
The 22-year-old Brazilian forward recorded his inaugural goal for the Bafana Ba Style during their 3-0 triumph on Saturday against Sekhukhune United at Loftus Versfeld Stadium.
Although Sales has had difficulties in scoring for the Tshwane giants, he did provide two assists last month in their match against Polokwane City. He finally scored his first goal on Saturday with a penalty in the second half.
The former Lommel SK player also received the Man of the Match award in their encounter with Babina Noko. Mngqithi expressed satisfaction with Sales’ performance and highlighted his potential to be a major asset for the Brazilians this season. “Our goal is to see him contributing to our wins,” Mngqithi mentioned to Sportswire after their 3-0 victory over Sekhukhune United.
“Whether he finds the net, sets up goals, or makes secondary assists, those contributions matter to us more than just focusing solely on goal scoring. There might be times he doesn’t score often, but if he keeps assisting like he has with two already [we will be happy].
“This development is highly encouraging, showing that he is on the right path. The adaptation phase can sometimes be longer than anticipated.
“We must recognize that he is still quite young at just 22. His improvement is largely dependent on our guidance and training efforts to identify where he can be most effective for the team. I was impressed with his movements on the field [Saturday], and I believe there’s still room for him to enhance his game; there are greater expectations from him.”
Following Sundowns’ win on Saturday, they have climbed to the top of the Betway Premiership. The former Golden Arrows coach noted that while it may be premature to celebrate their current first-place standing, he is pleased with the team’s overall performance. “Right now, our emphasis isn’t on where we sit in the standings but rather on whether we are accomplishing our objectives,” Mngqithi stated.
“We successfully achieved our goals in the first phase and are closing in on our targets for the second phase. This is a positive sign, as we need to respect the process and not rush ahead.
“The players are responding well, and I remember when we first reached 71 points, having only secured seven points in the initial cycle, but this time we have 12 points.
“We are now on the verge of hitting our goals for this cycle, and that excites me because it indicates we are in the right direction. Thus, while the current league position holds some significance, it is not the main focus at this stage of the season, as fluctuations can lead to unnecessary pressures and feelings of inadequacy. Overall, I am happy with the team’s progression.”
The Brazilians are scheduled to play their next league match on 18 December against Stellenbosch FC. Before facing Stellies, Mngqithi’s squad will tackle two Moroccan powerhouses, AS FAR and Raja Club Athletic, in the CAF Champions League.
