Mamelodi Sundowns coach Manqoba Mngqithi has showered praise on Brazilian forward Lucas Ribeiro Costa following his impressive performances for the club.
Costa has already scored four goals in six matches this season as he continues from where he left last season with Sundowns reaping the benefits of his immense talents.
Mngqithi says the Brazilian does not just bring goals to the team but his all-round game enables them to adapt to different situations during a match which helps them overcome their opponents.
Why is Manqoba Mngqithi thrilled with Ribeiro Costa?
“Lucas is a very dynamic footballer and very talented. We always believe he has got something to give us at any given stage,” said Mngqithi.
“The good thing is that he plays in all phases of the game. In build-up, he can be very important for us between the lines, in the consolidation phase we can always establish play from him, a strong boy that is able to receive [the ball] with the left foot and drive forward but we can also use him to break counter attack because he is quick enough to exploits the gaps that the opponents are giving you.
“It makes it easier when you have players like those that can give you different variables of the game within one match because as it is now, nobody knows how the game is going to be.
The Brazilian did not take long to show his qualities
“We can all think it might be open but what if it is a low block or a very high press? All these moments of the game are important for us as a big team to prepare and be ready.”
Costa joined Sundowns in July 2023 from Belgian club Waasland-Beveren and took to life in South Africa like fish to water as he had 25 goal involvements, having scored 16 goals while providing nine assists, as the Brazilians won the PSL and African Football League.
He has maintained the fine form this season by scoring twice against Mbabane Swallows in the CAF Champions League as well as in the league against SuperSport United and Marumo Gallants and he will be among Sundowns’ dangermen when they face Kaizer Chiefs at the FNB Stadium on Saturday.
