Sammy Seabi during the Absa Premiership 2019/20 football match between Chippa United and Mamelodi Sundowns at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth on 14 August 2019 © Deryck Foster/BackpagePix
Sundowns skipper Kekana praises club’s new ‘Viera’
They already call Sammy Seabi ‘Viera’ at just 24-years-old and Sundowns skipper Hlompho Kekana says the holding midfielder just belongs at the Brazilians.
Sammy Seabi during the Absa Premiership 2019/20 football match between Chippa United and Mamelodi Sundowns at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth on 14 August 2019 © Deryck Foster/BackpagePix
Mamelodi Sundowns skipper Hlompho Kekana is full of praise for the club’s new holding midfielder Sammy Seabi.
Seabi joined the defending PSL champions at the beginning of August and has quickly shown why they called him ‘Viera’ in Limpopo.
The 24-year-old joined Sundowns from Polokwane City and has made two league appearances so far this season.
Veteran midfielder Kekana is delighted to have Seabi playing alongside him in the centre of the park for the Brazilians.
Seabi has taken little time to settle into Sundowns pattern of play and the skipper feels that he belongs in a Downs shirt.
The deep-lying midfielder is likely to start again, alongside Kekana, when Sundowns take on SuperSport United in the MTN8 first leg semi-final at Lucas Moripe Stadium on Sunday. The skipper says that he is delighted to see Seabi leave it all out there when he plays.
“He has added value to our team. He’s a good player, young and hungry. You can see that when he plays he gives a good shift, so I think we are very happy to have him as part of the team,” Kekana says.
The captain feels that a major challenge for Seabi will be to get used to the sheer amount of football that Sundowns play. The reigning PSL champions are competing on multiple fronts this season. Downs play three matches while other PSL clubs will be afforded a break because of their continental commitments and progression in the MTN 8.
Kekana feels there is no reason to believe that Seabi doesn’t have the legs to keep up though and is delighted to have ‘Viera’ on board.
“I think we have to guide him and really show him that this is a team that is going to play so many matches because of our schedule. But he looks ready, he looks like somebody who is going to work hard. I’m just happy to have him in our team.”
Sundowns have given up some early ground to Kaizer Chiefs in a PSL title race that hasn’t really taken shape just yet. Chiefs will have the luxury of some time with their feet up until 21 September. In the same period Sundowns will play the two legs of their MTN 8 semi-final as well as the first leg of their Caf Champions League tie against Seychellois club Côte d’Or FC.
Sundowns are the only SA team left in the Caf Champions League after Orlando Pirates were eliminated by Green Eagles of Zambia.
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