Former Mamelodi Sundowns captain Hlompho Kekana has explained Tashreeq Matthews’ strength that fans are missing while also pointing out an area he still needs to improve. Kekana believes Matthews has a unique quality that most wingers in the Betway Premiership can only dream of.
Hailing from the unforgiving streets of Hanover Park in Cape Town, also home to the great Benni McCarthy, Matthews joined Sundowns in January 2024 from Sweden’s IK Sirius and has since established himself as a regular in Kabo Yellow’s starting line-up.
The former Cape Town Spurs and Borussia Dortmund player has built his game around tactical off-ball intelligence, combined with his blistering pace and direct attacking style.
HLOMPHO KEKANA: ‘TASHREEQ MATTHEWS CAN PLAY WITHOUT THE BALL’
Despite an impressive tally of five goals and four assists in 22 games this season, Matthews has faced considerable criticism for his finishing. According to former Sundowns midfielder, Kekana, the 25-year-old Matthews remains one of the most talented wingers in the South African game, thanks to his ability to play with and without the ball.
“You go to love him, I love his energy and his attitude. There is nothing that beats attitude in a big team,” Kekana said on The Pitchside podcast.
“He has been getting the stick a lot for making wrong decisions or getting into scoring positions and not scoring. That is the one thing letting him down.
“But everything else, he ticks all the boxes of a modern winger. He can dribble past defenders, he can play in half spaces, and he can break the lines without the ball,” Kekana added.
“If you look at all the chances he has got, he was one-on-one with the goalkeeper. He is able to break lines where it really hurts defenders. That takes serious skill to understand the game at that level. He has that skill of playing without the ball.
IMPROVEMENT IN FRONT OF GOAL KEY FOR MATTHEWS
“Many wingers I know play a lot with the ball, but he has that variety. He can play with the ball, and he can play without the ball behind the strikers and defenders,” the Zebediela-born legend continued.
“Obvioiusly something he still needs to improve is finishing. That connection with the ball in terms of using the right technique. The way [Bryan] Leon does, the way of Tebza [Teboho Mokoena], and Marcello [Allende], that goal he scored against Sekhukhune, where he sidefooted the ball.
“You must have that understanding with the ball. Knowing where to hit it without even looking. I think Tashreeq, with his speed, with his aggression, he just needs to focus more on those little details in finishing. He will be unstoppable,” Kekana concluded.
The Brazilians are scheduled to face Durban City at Chatsworth Stadium on Tuesday at 19:30.
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