Sundowns coach says he did not like his striker

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Mamelodi Sundowns’ Portuguese tactician, Miguel Cardoso, took time to warm up to his Brazilian striker, Arthur Sales.

TRAINING SYLE

With nine goals and 10 assists, Sales has become Sundowns’ starting striker ahead of Peter Shalulile. “I think at the moment we have a wonderful Artur that is following the excitement of the team at the moment,” coach Cardoso said as quoted by Kick Off.

“Sales was a player that when I arrived, was coming from an injury. It was his first year in South Africa. It’s not the same coming to South Africa and we also needed to understand the way he is.

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Cardoso celebrates a goal with Arthur Sales against Chippa United at the Buffalo City Municipality Stadium. Image: IOL

The Sundowns mentor added: “Believe me, in the beginning I said, ‘I don’t like him. I don’t like the way he trains’. But I kept loving him, I understood that we needed to decide what kind of behaviours we want from him on the pitch and how to build the team, not around him, but to compliment him more,” Cardoso concluded on the 22-year-old striker who cost the club R63 million from Belgian club Lommel SK.

Meanwhile, Sundowns take on Pyramids FC in the CAF Champions League first leg final. The game is set for Saturday at 15:00 at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium. The return leg will be in Cairo next weekend.