Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Rulani Mokwena has explained why Peter Shalulile and Tashreeq Matthews did not start against SuperSport United.
The Brazilians drew 1-1 with SuperSport United in the Tshwane Derby at Loftus Versfeld, extending their unbeaten run in the DStv Premiership to 42 games.
Read: Mokoena Stunner Not Enough For Downs In Tshwane Derby
Mokwena has revealed he wanted to start Matthews against SuperSport, but says he has been struggling due to Ramadan.
"Ja, no Thapelo (Morena) deserved some minutes, (Junior) Mendieta has been doing well at training, so he also deserves some minutes, ja let's see Peter (Shalulile), we're trying to manage him.
"Tash (Matthews) is struggling a bit because it's Ramadan, we wanted to start him but he's struggling a bit because of the fasting and you could see when he came on.
"Okay, good, they have to try their best and I'm happy with their effort."
Mokwena felt Sundowns lacked a bit of compactness against a side who resorted to a lot of long balls.
"Proud of the players, good effort, happy also for players who have not been getting a lot of game time, so okay we can't win them all, can we? We take a point and we move," Mokwena said on SuperSport TV."We lacked a little bit of compactness, it's difficult when you play against a team with a lot of long balls you know. In the first-half, the intensity of Grant (Kekana), Zuko (Mdunyelwa), Divine (Lunga), to step up a little bit, five more steps with a bit of intensity.
"Okay, good, we did well. I'm happy with the effort and the commitment of the players, they represented the club well and you can't win them all can you? So we move on, we try to improve, try to utilize all the players that we have," he said.
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