Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso has addressed Thapelo Maseko’s lack of regular game time at the Tshwane giants this season.
The left-footed winger has struggled to hold a regular place in the Sundowns’ starting line-up as he faces stiff competition. Downs have players such as Lucas Ribeiro Costa, Tashreeq Matthews, Kutlwano Letlhaku, and Kobamelo Kodisang fighting for a starting berth on the wings, where Maseko plays.
Maseko joined Masandawana at the start of the 2023/24 Betway Premiership season from SuperSport United as a highly rated young talent. At SuperSport, the 21-year-old tormented defenders with his explosive pace and dribbling skills.
In his time at SuperSport, Maseko played 34 matches across all competitions, scored four goals, and provided two assists. His dynamism in attack caught the eye of Sundowns, who swiftly moved to capture his signature. Before joining Sundowns, he was linked with a move abroad.
Last season, under the guidance of Rulani Mokwena, Maseko scored two goals and chipped in with one assist in 24 matches across all competitions.
Meanwhile, the talented attacker was also part of the Bafana Bafana squad that clinched the 2023 AFCON bronze medal in the Ivory Coast.
In the current campaign, Maseko has struggled to break into the matchday squad, but he has been regularly making appearances in Sundowns’ DStv Diski Challenge [DDC] side.
MIGUEL CARDOSO HINTS AT MORE PLAYING MINUTES FOR MASEKO
Cardoso says the Bafana international who came on as a second-half substitute when the Brazilians defeated Esperance 1-0 in the first leg of the CAF Champions League quarter-final on Tuesday has been training ‘well’.
“Maseko has been training very well; It’s true that he hasn’t been playing regularly. He’s been with the group, and when the player is regularly in the group, it means we trust him,” Cardoso said.
“He’s a player that we trust, and he has specific characteristics, and we thought with how the game against Esperance was, we would profit from his characteristics. Maseko is a very quick player; he understands the spaces behind the defenders. So he has been training us with… and he’s a player who needs to be served in the spaces, we didn’t serve him that.
“We had to play balls behind the defenders and the intentions were clear with putting him on the pitch, we’re pretty satisfied with the work he does every day [at training].”
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