sportskeeda
Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso has showered praise on striker Arthur Sales, who is currently on an impressive streak, having achieved three assists in three consecutive Betway Premiership matches.
The 22-year-old forward initially encountered hurdles upon joining the South African top tier after transferring from Belgian club Lommel SK for an estimated fee of €3.20 million (R65 million), making him the most expensive player in the PSL.
Cardoso attributes Sales’ early struggles to the abundance of talent within the Masandawana squad, which includes numerous high-quality players. He acknowledges the team’s extensive roster but insists that every Sundowns player holds equal importance.
“At our club, we have considerable squad depth and many players, so occasionally if one player is not performing, it can be due to another player shining, which might overshadow them,” Cardoso stated.
“In our locker room, we often say that at Sundowns, there is a thin line between being essential and becoming a player who isn’t accustomed to that role, given the incredible quality we have,” the 52-year-old coach added.
“Therefore, there are no bigger or smaller players. That’s why I often tell you, [media], that I’m comfortable rotating players, as their performances consistently showcase their quality.”
After making a notable impact when coming off the bench, Sales secured his place in the starting lineup for the last three league matches, continuing to impress Cardoso with his contributions.
“Sales may have been somewhat overlooked, but remember that even before these recent matches, whenever he was on the pitch, he made a difference. He scored and assisted,” the Portuguese coach remarked.
“He contributed to turning games around. Having him on the bench was a comfort because I knew he would offer something valuable when brought on. Perhaps I even felt a bit envious for not starting him sooner.”
“However, I gave him the chance, and he seized it fully. He is indeed performing remarkably well.”
“I’m delighted for him, especially as his performance positively affects the team. There’s a strong link between each individual’s effort and our collective success.”
Overall, Sales has scored six goals and provided ten assists in 34 appearances across all competitions. The South African forward will be keen to add to his scoring tally when Sundowns host Stellenbosch FC at Lucas Moripe Stadium on Sunday.
