Mamelodi Sundowns coach Rhulani Mokwena has opened up on why Terrence Mashego was signed despite so much quality the Tshwane giants already have in the left-back position.
The 26-year-old defender joined the likes of Bongani Zungu, Marcelo Allende, Ronwen Williams, Sipho Mbule, Abubeker Nasir and the yet to be unveiled Abdelmounaim Boutouil as the club’s latest signings this transfer window.
Many have called Mashego’s signing “unnecessary” taking into account the number of quality left-backs Sundowns have on their books – Lyle Lakay, Aubrey Modiba, Sifiso Ngobeni, Devine Lunga (on loan) and Siyanda Msani (on loan).
Mokwena admitted that initially there was no need to strengthen the club’s left-back position yet they couldn’t afford to lose an opportunity to sign the “special” Mamelodi-born left-footer who became available.
RHULANI MOKWENA ON WHY DOWNS SIGNED TERRENCE MASHEGO
“The transfer market is a very strange thing at the moment,” he told the media as quoted by Soccer Laduma.
“A lot of clubs from a financial perspective are in a sort of precarious position and the left-back was not a position we thought we needed to strengthen when going into the new season.
“And we would have loved to have our business sorted by now but the reality is that when special players and Terrence is a special player because he plays for the national team.
“When special players in a certain way are put on the market and become available you have to check whether all the boxes are ticked.
“And he ticks a lot of the boxes not necessarily because there is a decline from any of the left-backs but because the reality is a special talent became available in the market and then he fits the methodology, the style of play, he fits the personality and then, of course, he’s got the emotional connotation to Sundowns and to Mamelodi.”
“That then says to you when that type of talent is available in the market you have to go for it because a talent that goes to strengthen a rival and makes them stronger,”
“So we’ve welcomed Terrence and we’re happy to have him.”
