Rulani must stop doing certain players favours - Khanye.

Mamelodi Sundowns lost 2-1 to Stellenbosch FC in a Nedbank Cup quarter-final match played at Athlone Stadium on Saturday evening.

On the back of Sundowns loss, Diski TV analyst, Junior Khanye, believes it is time for coach Rulani Mokwena to stop doing certain players favours.

Khanye believes Peter Shalulile was not supposed to be kept on the pitch for so many minutes when he was actually not contributing anything.

"I don't understand why Shalulile was kept for many minutes, whilst the guy did nothing, keep him only if he gives you something," Khanye told iDiski TV.

"Yes uMshishi (Themba Zwane) was quiet, and Sirino as well, they were substituted, but why keep Shalulile?

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"Because even in the Swallows game the guy missed so many chances. I know that he's been scoring for them, but why keep him in the game until the 94th minute? That was a blunder from the coach."

Khanye believes there are players who just know that they will make the starting 11 at Sundowns, judging by their body language.

"And one thing that Rulani needs to learn, because he is going to face this situation again (teams playing like Stellenbosch) in the Dstv Premiership next season, and the Caf Champions league, they got quality players (Sundowns), make no mistake, but the mistake that the coach makes is that he sometimes do certain players favours.

"There are players, if you judge by their body language, who know they are always going to play. Look at Mvala's blunder, but truly speaking, I am sure he is going to play in the next game.

"According to me, De Reuck (Rushine) is supposed to play there. Jali (Andile) as well, I heard in the media Mike Makaab saying he is not going back there, but next season, going into the champions league, they will need Jali in that position (number six).

"Rulani needs to go back to the drawing board. There are certain players at Sundowns who must earn their positions in the starting 11. He mustn't go with history, he must select players according to their current performances," he concluded.

Sundowns will now turn their attention to the Caf Champions League quarter-finals, with CR Belouizdad awaiting them on Saturday 22 April at Stade Nelson Mandela, Algeria.

Khanye impressed by Zwane.

                                                                      Image: Twitter

It takes special talent to impress former Kaizer Chiefs winger, Junior Khanye, who is now a football analyst at iDiski TV, and Samkelo Zwane is something special.

Speaking after Amakhosi’s 2-1 win over Stellenbosch last weekend, Khanye could not stop raving about Zwane’s man of the match performance, going as far as comparing the 21-year-old to Andile Jali.

Zwane has appeared eight times for Chiefs this season, playing the full 90 minutes against Maritzburg United and Stellenbosch FC. He looks like a player who can give the team a different dimension in midfield, a different dynamic from what Yusuf Maart and Siyethemba Sithebe can offer.

“Between him and [Junior] Mendieta, Zwane is my Man of the Match because today Zwane was playing more as a box-to-box player,” said Khanye as quoted by iDiski Times. Khanye Compares Chiefs Starlet To Jali - iDiski Times

“You can’t make him a defensive midfielder because he knows how to combine better than when [Yusuf] Maart and [Siyethemba] Sithebe are in that position. He knows how to make the team gel.

“He kind of reminds me of Andile Jali, although Jali is obviously better and more experienced.

“I think Kaizer Chiefs have to understand that Zwane is not a defensive midfielder. He is not strong in defence but can help the team going forward.

“Sithebe can’t get out of sticky situations and he can’t even call for the ball. But the boy can call for the ball and he is more skilful. He knows how to hit a forward pass. His energy reminds me of Jali when he arrived at [Orlando] Pirates. Well he will never be in that class but he’s got potential to become one of the best.

“He can play forward and when the ball is on the right maybe on [Dillon] Solomon’s feet, he knows how to create a triangle and open in the middle. He had two options to either play on the line or play from where it came from.

“He is also able to protect the ball so he is a very good ball player and he is able to screen before he receives it. He knows football and today he gave Kaizer Chiefs balance so they could play, and I think the understanding he has with Mdu [Shabalala] is wonderful.”