Modise and Kekana single out key factor in Sphelele Mkhulise’s maturity

Mamelodi Sundowns legends Hlompho Kekana and Teko Modise have pin-pointed a key factor in the maturity of Masandawana’s midfielder Sphelele Mkhulise.

The retired midfield maestros lauded the 27-year-old for having elevated his game recently and counted him among the stand-out players in the club’s first leg against Al Ahly in Egypt.

Modise says there’s simplicity in Mkhulise’s game, an element that’s lacking in most of the midfielders.

He feels that the Pietermaritzburg-born can now handle the pressure especially when it comes to big games.

TEKO MODISE HEAPS PRAISE ON MAMELODI SUNDOWNS’ SIPHELELE MKHULISE 

“There’s so much maturity on that boy and as a midfielder, you know how difficult it is to play simple,” he said in Sundowns’ Pitchside Podcast.

“The most difficult to do as a midfielder is to play simple. He does it so well in big, big games.

“When you go and collect the ball at the back, you know the pressure behind you, listen, the simplicity he’ll do to come out of that situation, not many can.”

Kekana, who captained Mkhulise before he left the club, chipped in speaking highly of the club’s academy graduate.

‘KK’ believes Mkhulise now fully understands what’s expected of him in the role he plays in the team.

‘HE’S SOMETHING ELSE’

“He did so well against [Orlando] Pirates in Orlando, a player who stood out for me to come out of pressure without having to do much, is ‘Blesser’ [Mkhulise],” Kekana said.

“He went to Cairo, and the same thing happened, with the same amount of touches on the ball. He’s something else guys.

“The easiest part of the game is to play simple, that’s difficult to do because remember when you’re on the ball there’s so much excitement.

“But there’s that maturity [in him], he’s calm and he knows what’s needed in that position at that time. At that particular moment, he knows how to spread those passes.”

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