Perfectly timed return

Kaitano Tembo says Thabo Mnyamane’s (above) return has come at the right time for SuperSport United, when they are short of personnel up front.

The 27 year-old has come back from a lengthy injury that has kept him out of the SuperSport team since May to play in Matsatsantsa’s last two games, netting his first goal for SuperSport since April 2018 when he scored against Highlands Park on December 6.

The former University of Pretoria attacker could find himself in the starting line-up tonight when Matsatsantsa A Pitori take on Chippa United in an Absa Premiership tie in East London.

“Thabo has got goals in him when he is fully fit. Technically he is very good and he is a good finisher. We were a bit thin and I am happy that I have Thabo back from injury. He scored in his first game (in the starting line-up) after a long time and that goal will do a lot of good for his confidence. I would not want to overload him because his game time needs to be built up gradually. We know he is a quality player but at the same time we need to be fair on him and not to overload him,” said Tembo.

The Matsatsantsa mentor went on to praise teenager Oswin Appollis who made his senior team debut in a 1-1 league draw with Stellenbosch FC and was part of the national team that reached the Under-20 Cosafa final.

“He is another one as well and we can see what it does to young players, they know that there is a future at the club when they do well and that when they behave and do well they continue to get those opportunities because we live like that in this club.

“He made his debut for us and we had to release him to go and play for the Under-20s because it is important that he goes and plays at that level, it is good for his development as well. He went there full of confidence and that is why he scored goals there but at the same time the pressure keeps on mounting because he is expected to do better...he has to show that he has the quality to handle ... that pressure.”

Thabo has got goals in him when he is fully fit. Technically he is very good and he is a good finisher. SuperSport United coach Kaitano Tembo on Thabo Mnyamane.