With Mamelodi Sundowns attacker Lucas Ribeiro Costa regarded as arguably the best player in the PSL, former assistant coach Romain Folz has revealed what makes the Brazilian so good.
Costa has been a revelation for Sundowns since he was signed by Belgian club SK Beveren in July 2023.
Technically, the 26-year-old is arguably the best in the country, with his ability to see a pass, glide past opponents or pick a spot when going for goal.
Costa scored 16 goals from 37 appearances in his first season at the Tshwane giants and had an incredible nine assists.
In the current campaign, the Brazilian left-footer has already scored eight goals and assisted six goals in 20 matches.
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Folz, who was in charge of the offensive play at Sundowns, has revealed what stood out for him coaching Costa.
"Lucas Ribeiro is a very creative player but one thing for me (that stands out) is his vision of the game, peripheral vision. He has the capacity to offensively scan, when he's going to receive the ball, he already knows what is going to happen behind him," Folz said on SoccerBeat YouTube Channel.
"Which sometimes allows him to execute a one-touch pass or to take the right body shape to orient his first touch and then feed the ball vertically.
"His perspective on how he scans the game offensively, is very impressive, more than his capacity on the ball, which is also very good," Folz observed.
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Costa, however, is yet to pick up form in the CAF Champions League, with his two goals so far coming against minnows Mbabane Swallows in the preliminary stages.
Masandawana will be focused on qualifying for the CAF Champions League group stages for the next three weeks, with away trips to Raja Casablanca, on Saturday and Maniema Union next weekend.
The Brazilians will then host AS FAR Rabat on 19 January and will only resume Betway Premiership title race when they visit Magesi on 22 January.