As someone who had to wait a while to become a regular at Mamelodi Sundowns, retired defender Wayne Arendse has been impressed with a player at the club who is making the most of the opportunities in the starting line-up.
Arendse, a winner of the 2016 CAF Champions League with Sundowns, joined the Tshwane giants from Santos, but it took a while before he finally broke into the team as a regular. Alje Schut's departure opened the door for him to play alongside Thabo Nthethe at the heart of Sundowns' defence.
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Keanu Cupido did not have to wait as long as Arendse did to get his chance at Sundowns, but he did need a little bit of patience. Signed from Cape Town City in January this year, Cupido only started getting regular game time at the FIFA Club World Cup and had started the new campaign as a key man in central defence for head coach Miguel Cardoso.
Arendse has been impressed with how Cupido has earned his spot in the team and believes he can play a crucial role in the CAF Champions League.
"He's solidifying his place. He's looked strong since the Club World Cup. He looks the part. He keeps things simple and that's what you should do as a defender. You shouldn't complicate things. People who complicate things are the attackers, but he keeps it simple. It's good to see a defender just being a defender. He looks like he is one of those consistent players and that's what you are going to need in the Champions League," Arendse said to Soccer Laduma.
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"It shows that you have to have patience in this game. You have to trust the process because I didn't just come to Sundowns and play. I had to wait for my chance. Alje left and I took my chance and the rest was history. There are other players who also waited for their chance at Sundowns. That's a message to all the new players who sign for Sundowns. They should be patient and make use of their chance when they get it."
