Mamelodi Sundowns coach Rulani Mokwena has assured striker Abubeker Nassir of his future at Mamelodi Sundowns.
Nassir made a rare start in the starting line-up when Sundowns beat Cape Town Spurs by 3-0 during the DStv Premiership match played in Tshwane on Wednesday. The Ethiopian striker has struggled with game-time since arriving at Chloorkop last year, managing only twelve appearances in the colours of the Brazilians.
Besides injuries, the language barrier has been hinted as one of the reasons that have delayed his progress at the club, failing to replicate the same form displayed in Ethiopia before his arrival in South Africa.
"There are a lot of reasons if you review where he comes from, the type of intensity, and the type of games he used to play. The same with Lucas Ribeiro, for an example, he is not used to this volume of these games, Marcelo (Allende) the intensity and physicality.
"So when players come in, there is always be adaption phase and you don't know how long that adaption phase is," said Mokwena.
READ | 65 games out of action: Sundowns' quandary with Nasir
'Unfortunately Nasir had to encounter a couple of setbacks but it doesn't help even the language is a barrier so we trying to get him in that space and the culture is completely different. But he is definitely for me still a top talent.
'He has all the attributes of being the best striker in the continent and is still very young and still has age on his side. He needs a lot of support, we have to give him support. His family has just moved now to South Africa and hopefully, that will stabilize him a little bit.
"He has recovered from his injuries, he played (on Wednesday), we were precautious not to extend more than 45 minutes.
"So we trying to take it step by step with him but top talent and I think we will reap the awards later at Sundowns.
"We've got to be patient, he is still young, 23, if not mistaken, still a good age, has all the weapons, he scored goals. He showed in Ethiopia, he has speed and he dribbles, and if you have those three weapons as an attacking player, you have incredible weapons," he added.
You must be SIGNED IN to read and post comments.
Click HERE to register!