Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Rulani Mokwena has hailed the impact made by one of his signings in the second half against Sekhukhune United.
The Brazilians began the defence of their DStv Premiership title with a 2-1 victory over Sekhukhune on Friday evening.
Read: Downs Signing Off The Mark In Feisty Opening Win
Lucas Ribeiro Costa scored the second goal for Sundowns but it was fellow new signing Thapelo Maseko who made the goal possible by winning possession high up the pitch.
Mokwena admits the decision to play Aubrey Modiba was not working for the side, before Maseko was introduced at the start of the second stanza.
"It just wasn't working. We had a specific plan and it's just wasn't coming together but Modiba is very important for us, he gives us so much versatility and multiple options and he understands this is a game of football," Mokwena told SuperSport after the game.
"Maseko did very well when he came on and gave us the impetus we were looking for but yeah, congratulations, it's very good to start the season with a win and very proud of the players and their efforts."
Mokwena also spoke of the importance of having Rivaldo Coetzee back in the squad, despite his sending off late in the second half.
"Yeah, we want to try do something a little bit different, to try to create superiorities on the pitch and free up certain players in situations where we can take advantage of their quality," Mokwena explained.
"And we've got different ways of trying to do that and creating overloads but one of them who is going to be important is Rivaldo but ja as you say it's a team effort and it's a pity that a very good performance like that it's a little bit dampened by the retaliation for the red card."
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