Mokoena questions whether Sundowns’ new right-backs can break into the team

Former Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Teboho Mokoena has warned Deano Van Rooyen and Thabang Matuludi that establishing themselves at the club will be difficult after their arrivals took the number of right-backs in the squad to six.

Sundowns moved quickly to strengthen the position after Khuliso Mudau suffered an Achilles tendon injury. Van Rooyen joined after parting ways with Orlando Pirates, while the Brazilians also won the race to sign Matuludi from Polokwane City.

The pair now face competition from Thapelo Morena, Zuko Mdunyelwa and Kegan Johannes, who are also listed as right-backs at the club.

Speaking to KickOff, Mokoena questioned whether Van Rooyen and Matuludi would receive regular opportunities over the long term, and suggested their signings may have been driven by the need to respond to Mudau’s injury.

“Morena is there, he can play right-back until Mudau comes back, simple. This thing of them signing more players (in that position), they could stay on the bench or may not make the 18 (matchday squad) and people will say it’s Sundowns (ruining careers),” Mokoena said.

The former Bafana Bafana player said the new arrivals would need to show considerable courage to compete for a place in a squad containing significant quality.

He compared their situation with that of Thabo Cele, who recently joined Sundowns from Kaizer Chiefs, and questioned whether the midfielder would immediately be able to secure a starting position.

“When you go to Sundowns you have to be brave, it’s not going to be easy for them to play. As much as this boy from Chiefs (Thabo Cele) had to be brave. Is he going to play? There is a lot of quality at Sundowns. There’s a lot of players at Sundowns and some of the players you can convert them. If Sundowns converts a player, they have a lot of players, you won’t even see that it is not his position. But we just have to wish them luck that they succeed. But it’s going to be difficult for them to get into the starting line-up,” the former Jomo Cosmos midfielder added.

Mokoena also noted that Sundowns can adapt players to unfamiliar positions without necessarily weakening the team, increasing the competition for places further.

Van Rooyen’s record at Orlando Pirates underlines the challenge ahead. He made only 14 appearances in all competitions for the club last season, a figure that raises further questions about whether he can force his way into Sundowns’ star-studded starting side.