Sundowns showed caution in whipping off Mudau at half time

Mamelodi Sundowns co-coach Manqoba Mngqithi says that Khuliso Mudau was taken off at halftime against Stellenbosch FC as a precaution.

Mudau has just returned from injury and was struggling to cope with Stellies wide players, ad evidenced when he brought down Ashley Du Preez in the Brazilians penalty area.

Junior Mendieta converted the penalty leaving Sundowns going into the break a goal down and Mudau didn’t come out of the sheds for the second half.

Mngqithi explains Mudau sub

Mngqithi said the decision was based on the players fitness rather than his performance.

While Sundowns found an equaliser through Lyle Lakay they were forced to accept a share of the points.

“Mudau was feeling a little bit of a hamstring, we felt because of the intensity that was put in by [Ashley] Du Preez and Dimgba, it was always going to come so we realised it’s better for us to take him out because already he was not feeling good but I don’t think it’s something serious at this stage,” Mngqithi told SuperSport TV.

“It’s just that we had to be cautious at this stage of the season, when we’ve got so many games back-to-back and I think Thapelo came in and gave a very good account of himself.

“We could have done better honesty speaking. One would say we could have taken all the three points but unfortunately it was not to be.”

Supersport

Sundowns remain nine points clear at the top of the DStv Premiership table with three teams chasing them on 22 points including Stellenbosch.

Masandawana will face one of that trio in midweek when they host second-placed Royal AM at Loftus Versfeld.

The defending champions are unbeaten in league competition this season and it will take some effort to prevent them from claiming a fifth successive top-flight title and further their claim to being South Africa’s greatest football team.