The Babina Noko tactician has revealed his delight at the experienced player’s display
Sekhukhune United interim coach MacDonald Makhubedu is delighted with the performance of midfielder Thabang Monare in their MTN8 quarter-final loss to Cape Town City.
Monare, who joined Babina Noko after his release from Orlando Pirates, featured in his first competitive match for his new club on Saturday as Cape Town City secured a 1-0 win to advance to the MTN8 semi-final.
However, Makhubedu is looking at the positives and one of them is the display of Monare who he feels will bring the much-needed energy and dynamism in midfield to allow his team to play more on the front foot.
“We wanted someone faster who can cover the ground, who is more of a box-to-box midfielder. So, the available one was Monare,” Makhubedu said, as quoted by FARPost.
Will Monare be a success at Sekhukhune?
“He brings a lot of energy. I think today [Saturday] is the player who covered most of the pitch, and that is his game. So, he is a player who plays with more energy and also, he is a ball player.
“He has that BMT [Big Match Temperament] in him. He is not like a player who will panic under pressure. That is why today he was on top of his game.
“He is more of a box-to-box player, and that position suits him. That is why we signed him up with Relebogile Mokhuoane. If you can check, they are more of the same players.
“We wanted to have two eights, and our scouting department did well on that and gave us two options. If not Monare, then there is Mokhuoane because we want to play with six and eight. We don’t want to sit back with a block of form like we did last season.”
Ex-Pirates man looking to quickly gel with new team-mates
Monare brings a wealth of experience which will be beneficial to Sekhukhune as they challenge in the PSL as well as CAF Confederation Cup this season.
The player was deemed surplus to requirements by Pirates after spending most of last season on the bench, making just 11 league appearances.
“It is to continue working hard and being part of the structure and part of this beautiful team and trying to understand my players and working hard for my players,” Monare told SuperSport TV after Saturday’s match.
“That is the way for me to gel in and give my best to this club and go beyond the limits.”
