Why AmaTuks will not rush Ramagalela into the starting XI
AmaTuks head coach Tlisane Motaung has explained why newly signed University of Pretoria striker Rodney Ramagalela will not be rushed into action in the Motsepe Foundation Championship.
Ramagalela was signed by AmaTuks on a free transfer alongside former Mamelodi Sundowns attacker Thokozani Sekotlong few week ago.
Despite sitting on the bench over the weekend when the Pretoria-based side was knocked out of the Nedbank Cup preliminary rounds by Cape Town Spurs, Motaung insists that Ramagalela will not be rushed into the starting line.
“Look, we are aware that Rodney Ramagalela has been out of the game for a bit longer,” Motaung told FARPost.
WHY RODNEY RAMAGALELA WON’T BE RUSHED TO ACTION
“If my memory serves me right, Ramagalela has been a free agent for about nine months since he was released by Black Leopards.
“So we don’t want to rush him back into the starting 11 because his fitness is also not up to the level we want.
“Rushing him back into action would mean that we run a risk of losing him possibly for another six month.
“That’s why we need to be careful and bring him back into action gradually. There’s no doubt that he will help us a lot in terms of scoring goals,” Motaung added.
The 33-year old forward came in as a second half substitute for Tuks on Saturday.
However, he couldn’t help his side avoid being eliminated from the Nedbank Cup qualifying stages by Cape Town Spurs.
Boitumelo Radiopane, who is on-loan from Orlando Pirates scored a solitary late in the extra time to guarantee Spurs a position in the Nedbank Cup last 32.
Motaung further provided an update on the progress made by Sekotlong ahead of the resumption of the second tier league.
“Thokozani Sekotlong is also a bit far from being match fit,” said the coach.
“If you remember he hasn’t played competitive football since he last played for Chippa United last season.
“So we must must be very cautious with him also because if we throw him into the team prematurely.
“We will lose him to long term injury before he can help the team.”
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