Mamelodi Sundowns legend Bennett Mnguni has expressed his support for Captain Hlompho Kekana, amid the player’s struggles for game-time this season.
35-year-old Kekana, who recently put pen to paper for another four years, has dropped down the pecking order under coaches Manqoba Mngqithi and Rhulani Mokwena, only managing nine appearances in all competitions.
And while Mguni admits he is unsure why the five-time title winner has been relegated to a bench warmer, he has also fully backed the decision of the Sundowns managing staff.
He said: “You know, about Hlompho, I think he can still play a huge role in this team. He is still a very important player, we can’t read too much into his lack of game-time because we don’t really know…We can only trust the coaches.
“We must respect their decision and give them the support they need. It could be because of trying to manage him as a senior player.”
Despite his lack of pitch-time, Kekana assured fans earlier that there were no problems between him and the technical staff, and that he was fully behind the team and his coaches.
Kekana shed light on the situation earlier: “I am waiting for an opportunity like any other player who has not been playing regularly, and I hope mine will come soon,”
“I’m happy the team is doing well at the moment.”
This season, the veteran midfielder has dropped behind new-arrival Mothobi Mvala, and Rivaldo Coetzee and Andile Jali who have been in good form.
And with the coaches’ tendency to adhere to a fixed first eleven, for which they have drawn some criticism, Kekana’s status as a reserve player seems solidified at the moment.
One thing that can’t be denied is that the Sundowns have been fantastic this season and are still undefeated in the league after 20 games.
And Mnguni is firmly on the opinion that the Brazilians’ march towards their fourth PSL title in a row will be hard to stop, albeit achieving it without a single loss would be an entirely different matter.
“The boys are playing well,” he added. “I don’t see any team that can stop Sundowns this season. They will defend the title.
“Someone will beat them, but still, that won’t be enough to stop them from winning the title.”