Sekhukhune United interim coach MacDonald Makhubedu has offered a measured assessment of new signing Thabang Monare’s debut for the club following their 1-0 defeat to Cape Town City FC in the MTN8 quarter-final.
The Bafana Bafana international signed for the Limpopo club at the beginning of the 2024/25 campaign. The 34-year-old joined Babina Noko as a free agent after he departed from Orlando Pirates, where his contract was not renewed.
Monare struggled for game time at the Buccaneers under the guidance of Jose Riveiro. Last campaign, the talented midfielder only managed to feature in 11 games in the league.
MACDONALD MAKHUBEDU ON THABANG MONARE’S DEBUT FOR SEKHUKHUNE UNITED
Makhubedu expressed his delight with Monare’s performance on his debut at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium, citing that he was one of the players who covered most of the pitch against the Citizens.
He stated that Monare has a big match temperament and brings a lot of “energy” in the field of play.
“We wanted someone faster who can cover the ground, who is more of a box-to-box midfielder. So, the available one was Monare,” Makhubedu told journalists in Polokwane.
“He brings a lot of energy. I think today [Saturday] is the player who covered most of the pitch, and that is his game. So, he is a player who plays with more energy and also, he is a ball player.
“He has that BMT [Big Match Temperament] in him. He is not like a player who will panic under pressure. That is why today he was on top of his game.”
Makhubedu further noted that Monare is more of a “box-to-box player”, and that’s what they have been looking for as a team.
“He is more of a box-to-box player, and that position suits him. That is why we signed him up with Relebogile Mokhuoane. If you can check, they are more of the same players,” he added.
“We wanted to have two eights, and our scouting department did well on that and gave us two options. If not Monare, then there is Mokhuoane because we want to play with six and eight. We don’t want to sit back with a block of form like we did last season.”
WHY MACDONALD MAKHUBEDU STARTED WITH KELETSO MAKGALWA AND THABANG MONARE IN THE MIDFIELD
Makhubedu also revealed why he opted to start the game with Keletso Makgalwa and Monare in the midfield. The coach put it on record that they wanted to play with a six and eight because they “wanted speed in the central midfield.”
“We wanted speed in the central midfield. We wanted centre mid with quick reaction with and without the ball. We needed a more faster player,” explained Makhubedu.
“We wanted to take the play with six and eight this season. Remember, we played with double six last season most of the time.”
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