Mamelodi Sundowns management could be heaping pressure on the club as the sidelining of striker Peter Shalulile was again glaring in a draw against Kaizer Chiefs.
The Sundowns hierarchy is already under pressure to sort out issues within the camp that has kept the best players out of the squad, with the biggest saga being Lucas Ribeiro Costa threatening to terminate his contract, as the Tshwane giants are yet to accept bids for his services.
Khuliso Mudau downed his tools, as he could not yet agree on a new contract with Masandawana, after he went to the FIFA Club World Cup on a deal for that period.
Shalulile also wanted out of Sundowns and was close to leaving before the season started but the Brazilians triggered a one-year option on his expired contract and made a U-turn on parting ways with him through a settlement.
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The Namibian, even though he became the joint-leading goalscorer of all time in the PSL with 129 goals after netting against Magesi, was surprisingly unused substitute in a goalless draw against Chiefs in midweek.
"I expected a Shalulile to be given an opportunity (against Chiefs) but it was not to be, God knows what Shalulile did, not to be given an opportunity. The last game he played he scored a goal, he doesn't get an opportunity (against Chiefs)," Sundowns legend Manqoba 'Shakes' Ngwenya said on Soccerbeat YouTube Channel.
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"It's so frustrating, he's one of our strikers we know when the chips are down he can come up with something. I guess he's not in the coach's plans. We're not at our best but we're also not putting our best players in.
"We know what Shalulile can do, he doesn't get a chance against Pirates, against Chiefs, I don't know what's the situation with Shalulile but I know he's a soldier, he will keep on fighting. Nothing against Mothiba but we know what Shalulile can do. He's a top goalscorer ever in this PSL, there is reason for that, because he's consistent," Ngwenya added.
The 31-year-old was limited to eight minutes in the 1-1 draw against Orlando Pirates in the MTN8 semi-final first leg and only featured for the last four minutes in the second leg that ended with the same scoreline before a loss on penalties.
