Mamelodi Sundowns have been playing some games without Marcelo Allende. Bathusi Aubaas has stepped in to deliver stellar performances. Coach Manqoba Mngqtihi has explained why the 29-year-old from Kuruman, Northern Cape is special.
WHY MAMELODI SUNDOWNS SIGNED BATHUSI AUBAAS
Having played at Buya Msuthu, Free State Stars and TS Galaxy, the dynamic central midfielder made his dream move to Sundowns in 2023.
“We brought him to Sundowns because he has very rare physical attributes. For a player of his height to have the kind of intensity that he has, the speed and the engine,” Mngqithi told the media after Kabo Yellow‘s 2-0 win over Polokwane City midweek.
“We’ve always believed that we can get a little bit more from him and I’m just excited to see him performing the way that he does because even in the game that we were playing in Polokwane, he didn’t play but he was training very well.
“I talked to him and I told him that I didn’t want to play him in that (Polokwane City) match because I’d prefer to see him in the Cape Town City game which required a lot of intensity and I know his aggression can help us. Because he’s such a good football player and a very good human being as well, he said ‘I know you’ll use me when the time is right’,” the Sundowns tactician added.
MIDFIELD OPTIONS
“I think he compliments Tebza (Mokoena) very well and they form a very formidable midfield partnership,” Mngqithi added.
“You still have a Marcelo Allende, Neo Maema, Sphelele Mkhulise and Lebo (Maboe) in that space so it makes you feel that you’re most likely to have a very good midfield at any given stage but his physical attribute are something to admire and very rare,” the Sundowns mentor concluded.
