Erwin Saavedra has arrived in South Africa. Photo: Twitter

Erwin Saavedra after arriving in South Africa. Photo: Twitter

Sundowns coach: Saavedra will be able to start soon

Mamelodi Sundowns co-coach Maqoba Mngqithi has provided more details into the plans around newcomer Erwin Saavedra.

Erwin Saavedra has arrived in South Africa. Photo: Twitter

Erwin Saavedra after arriving in South Africa. Photo: Twitter

Saavedra received a warm welcome as he touched down in South Africa this past week, having linked up with Sundowns on a multi-million rand deal (estimated to be around R12.25 million).

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The Bolivian international, who starred at the Copa America, will add further star power to a Sundowns team that has already opened up a virtually unassailable lead in the DStv Premiership.

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Saavedra made a short debut in the CAF Champions League as Sundowns clinched a 1-0 win in their over Al Hilal Omdurman on Friday, and Mngqithi has since explained why he didn’t play longer.

“The reason why we even had him in the team was to fast-track his integration in the team,” Mngqithi answered when asked by iDiski Times about the new signing.

“So that he starts to get a feel of the group and participates with the group. Obviously he’s very fit because he has been playing in South America and he’s done very well for his team.

“He was always in the team and performed a lot of minutes, so in terms of his physical fitness we had no doubt.

“We had a little bit of a doubt in terms of his traveling, because his traveling took about two days because there was a problem with flight to flight and it’s always a little bit of a challenge with transit periods. That’s why we were a little bit worried and didn’t give him more minutes.

“But we do believe in the very near future he’ll be able to be in the starting XI and to be able to help the team but we do not want to rush him.”

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