Sundowns to ease Dube and Maku into first-team football

Mamelodi Sundowns are taking a gradual approach with new arrivals Wandile Dube and Lazola Maku, who have yet to make their first-team debuts, Soccer Laduma has been informed.

The club does not intend to rush either player into the starting line-up. Instead, the left-sided centre-back and central midfielder are expected to build up their involvement over time before becoming regular members of the matchday squad.

Both players started for Sundowns’ DStv Diski Challenge (DDC) side in their match against Polokwane City last weekend. The appearance was part of a plan to provide them with additional playing time after they arrived at the club without sufficient match experience.

Maku was assessed in Austria after leaving Siwelele FC, before gaining valuable minutes with Amajita at the Cosafa U/20 Youth Championships.

Dube, meanwhile, did not play for AmaZulu’s first team before departing the KZN outfit. With neither player having had extensive exposure to football at a high competitive level, the DDC is viewed as an important route towards their eventual involvement with Sundowns’ senior side.

DDC provides route into senior squad

Sundowns have regularly used their DDC team to keep young players attached to the first-team group match-ready when they are not selected for senior matches. The side has also provided players with an opportunity to rebuild their confidence.

Malibongwe Khoza played for the DDC during the second half of last season after experiencing a difficult spell of form. He has since returned to the first team and now starts in central defence alongside Khulumani Ndamane.

Dube and Maku are therefore expected to continue featuring for the DDC until they are considered ready for consistent first-team involvement.