Mauricio Affonso with Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane (Pic Sundowns)
The Mamelodi Sundowns faithful that usually fill up the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville and Loftus Versfeld will have to wait a little while longer to see their new striker, Mauricio Affonso, make his debut for the Brazilians.
The Uruguayan was Pitso Mosimane’s first signing in the recently closed transfer window but he has not had his chance to take to the field yet as he remains in the casualty ward, where the likes of Phakamani Mahlambi, Anthony Laffor, Oupa Manyisa, Keletso Makgalwa and Thapelo Morena, among others, are also making their way to recovery.
“He got injured again on the same ankle, it is unbelievable because I thought next week he would play a little bit in Seychelles … it is a setback again with him,” said a visibly worried Mosimane who hoped the lanky striker would make his Sundowns debut next weekend when they travel to Seychelles to face Cote d’Or in the first round of the Caf Champions League group stage qualifiers.
With Jeremy Brockie having left Sundowns – albeit temporarily – on a season-long loan deal to Eric Tinkler’s Maritzburg United side and makeshift striker Morena out with a groin injury while Emiliano Tade is not yet fully fit to play 90 minutes, Mosimane has been left stranded and has limited options when it comes to striking personnel.
In recent games he has turned to Lebogang Maboe to play as a false striker and the 24-year-old has only found the back of the net once this season.
“We don’t have enough in attack, if you can look at the team sheet recently, you can understand that we lack a little bit of firepower because normally I would play Phakamani Mahlambi or maybe have Thapelo Morena up front to help,” Mosimane explained.
“Emiliano Tade can only play 10 minutes. We have a ward of injuries but I think with time and in a few weeks we will get stronger when we get everybody back… that is the challenge we have. But we will be back in four or five weeks and then have a team that can challenge anybody.”
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