High praise from ex-Sundowns teammates
We speak to two former Mamelodi Sundowns stars, who were part of the team that clinched the 2016 CAF Champions League title, about Ricardo Nascimento and they only have good things to say about the Brazilian…
Avail yourself and he will find you
Hlompho Kekana – Former Sundowns midfielder
“Ah, Papi! I call him ‘Delicious’ simply because what a player he is! What a player, what a professional. Papi is one player who, under pressure, will find his way out. He is very composed. You have to understand him in a sense that he is very… how can I say?... independent, within the structure to find his way out. Avail yourself and he will find you. Very good passer of the ball, very high level of intelligence, a good reader of the game and, overall, a team player. He is a captain, a leader in the change room. He loved the bonus and he loved winning matches. He loved winning trophies, so that is a player for you. He is very gifted technically and when I was leading him as a captain, I always knew that wow, I have a captain behind me as a centre-back who will organise everything. He led so many players that played with him and alongside him and I’m happy that you interviewed a great player there!”
That’s what people like about him Wayne Arendse – Former Sundowns defender
“Ricardo Nascimento, what a good guy that I shared a change room with. Even better on the field, reads the game very well and always looking to win. He never likes to lose a game and that is the mentality we had at Sundowns, and he fitted right in. He is a good professional through and through. He reads the game so well. He is not the quickest of defenders but one of the smartest defenders, that is for sure. He is a great family guy, who always puts his family first. You always see him posting his son and his wife (on social media). They are always together and that is what it is all about, prioritising on the field and off the field as well, so he is a great professional and a great guy through and through. It was a privilege to be in the same change room as him and he is still doing well at Royal AM and I wish him everything of the best so far and for his future. Overall, he is a good guy to be with and he was eager to learn the language when he came, and I must say he loves Brazil, ha, ha. He is a lovely guy and that is why he does so well wherever he goes and he gets along with everyone because his character shows and that’s what people like about him. He is always willing to listen and also able to give advice as well.”