Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Rulani Mokwena has outlined reasons behind keeping goalkeeper Jody February in the team despite standing a little or no chance of playing.
February faces stiff competition in the goalkeeping department at Sundowns, and he has failed to make it into the match-day squad since returning from his loan spell with Swallows last season.
Masandawana currently have Ronwen Williams, who joined the team from cross-town rivals SuperSport United in the off-season, as their first-choice goalie.
At the same time, Dennis Onyango, Kennedy Mweene, Riyaad Pieterse and February watch from outside.
Mokwena suggested that the reason behind holding onto the former Ajax Cape Town keeper was that they wanted him to learn from senior players.
“Jody is here training with us, and we have high hopes for him. He is an incredible goalkeeper,” Mokwena told the media at Chloorkop.
“He comes from a very good institution where a great job was done in relation to his growth.
“I had the privilege of playing against Jody in the U19 Bayhill Metropolitan Cup, where he was outstanding.
“Ajax beat us as Sundowns 1-0, and I can tell you that maybe 80% of that was because of Jody’s excellent performance.
RULANI BACKS FEBRUARY
“He’s a boy that we believe has incredible potential, the one positive that he has which overwrites the negative is that he wants to play.
“He wants to be in a space where he can compete and be better like every other player.
“The unfortunate part is that we couldn’t find the right environment for Jody because we feel he’s way better than being an NFD goalkeeper.
“So we had to look around and try to find him a place that could stimulate him to get to that level that we expect him to be.
“But we could not find that. The positive is that every single day he gets to spend time with one of the best goalkeeper coaches in the country Wendell Robinson. He gets to spend time with Bafana’s number one in Williams.
“He gets to train with two of best goalkeepers on the continent, which is Dennis and Kennedy, so what more do you need as a young goalkeeper,” Mokwena added.
The Cape Town-born goal-minder is yet to feature for the Brazilians this campaign and continues to watch from the stands while waiting for his chance.
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