Richards Bay FC coach Brandon Truter has addressed what he says was a bit of immaturity by recently called-up Bafana Bafana striker Yanela Mbuthuma.
The 22-year-old striker is among the 38 players named by coach Hugo Broos in the AFCON qualifiers squad set to play against Uganda and South Sudan.
The striker – Mbuthuma is yet to score for the KZN side this season but has been hailed for his hard work.
Truter was left unimpressed after his side finished their Betway Premiership match against Sekhukhune United with 10-man on Tuesday. This is after Mbuthuma was shown a straight red card for elbowing an opponent in an off-the-ball incident.
RICHARDS BAY COACH BRANDON TRUTER UNIMPRESSED BY HIS STRIKERS’ CONDUCT DURING A LEAGUE MATCH
“That’s an individual matter. It wasn’t a tackle or anything like that. It was an elbow to the face of a Sekhukhune player. That’s an emotional side, and he needs to control it. Lack of maturity, so we will talk about it,” said Truter.
“He can’t do it during the game. I think the referee warned him twice before that. So, as I said, these are things that happen. You make mistakes, and you learn from them.”
WHAT YANELA MBUTHUMA NEEDS TO DO TO MAKE IT INTO THE BAFANA BAFANA FINAL SQUAD
However, Truter has been impressed with the striker’s work rate. But he believes for Mbuthuma to make it to the Bafana Bafana final squad, he needs to start scoring goals.
“Yeah, look, he is a hard worker, but he also needs to be a bit more reactive. In saying that as well, a striker gets judged by the goals he scores. We had a chart. I had a chat with him, and I think that’s the only thing that will get him into the final squad, which is scoring goals. That’s what is lacking at the moment.
“The work rate, the pressing, the organisational things, he knows how to do that, and he can do that. I just think the only thing lacking is goals on his side,” he said.
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