Zakri and Vilakazi must lead us now, says Mosimane
JOHANNESBURG: With Khama Billiat and Anthony Laffor out injured, Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane says there is no time like the present for goal-shy Ivoirian striker Yannick Zakri to step up to the plate.
The Brazilians host Chippa United in an Absa Premiership clash at Loftus Versfeld tonight in what is the only midweek fixture, as the CAF Champions League winners play catch-up having fallen behind by five games during their quest for continental success last year.
Zakri, who arrived at Sundowns at the start of the 2016-17 season from Asec Mimosas, showing glimpses of being a quality player, is yet to score for his new club. Mosimane has been patient with Zakri, especially after he was held back by a groin injury shortly after making his debut in September. But the unavailability of match-winners Billiat and Laffor has brought the spotlight back to the recently acquired forward.
“He needs a goal,” Mosimane said of Zakri. “He and Sibusiso Vilakazi must lead us now in the next couple of matches. I think Khama and Anthony will miss at least four games. Unfortunately, he needs the time to understand how the team plays, but the sad part is that you can’t buy time. I think if he plays next to Percy Tau (Sundowns top scorer) he will improve. We also have Leonardo Castro who has been on the bench for some time now, is hungry and wants to show that he deserves to play more.”
Zakri benefited from Mosimane’s squad rotation when Sundowns visited Chippa two weeks ago in Mdantsane, where the two sides played to a 1-1 draw. The Ivoirian’s work rate was a highlight, but he again failed to score. It was a similar story at the weekend in the Brazilians’ 2-0 win over fellow championship contenders Bidvest Wits at Loftus – Zakri and Tau frustrating the Clever Boys’ back four, but the former was unlucky not to be among the goal scorers on the night.
“The complicated and challenging part at Sundowns is not our defence, but upfront,” said Mosimane, who is trying to manage his squad and pick what he has often called “the right specimen” for a particular match.
“We play in patterns at Sundowns. Zakri is a free-spirited player and he just wants the ball in front of him and just wants to run. At Sundowns you move in a certain way. Look at Themba Zwane, he is not very quick, but he knows how we play as a team.”
Mosimane praised Zakri’s efforts in the stalemate against Chippa a fortnight ago, but wants to finally see him end his goal drought. “He was okay in that game and he fought again in Rustenburg (when he came off the bench in a 2-1 win away to Platinum Stars last Tuesday). I think slowly he will adjust.” IT was the battle of the competition’s last two winners, but it was Shimlas from the University of the Free State who came out on top, beating Pukke from North West University 35-23 in Bloemfontein last night.
In a match that was marred by ill-discipline which saw four men – two from each side – sin-binned, Shimlas, winners in 2015, dominated the encounter and were fully deserving of the victory.
The visitors though were the first team to put points on the board and it was a telling score; a seven-point try scored by wing Jimmy Mpailane, who finished off a move that started inside Pukke’s half of the field. The conversion by Schalk Hugo made it 9-0 to last year’s champions.
Not long after Mpailane’s try, Shimlas hit back through lock Raymond Woest, who powered over from a lineout drive.
Pukke lost hooker Louis van der Westhuizen to the sin bin, conceded a seven-point penalty try after bringing down a Shimlas scrum close to the tryline and then scrumhalf Chriswell September was sent to the bin for an early tackle.