Rulani hails Sundowns' jack of all trades

Ahead of the resumption of DStv Premiership action, head coach Rulani Mokwena has heaped praise one of Mamelodi Sundowns' most versatile players.

With just 12 appearances under his belt this season, Sphelele Mkhulise  is still aiming to nail down a consistent role in a star-studded Sundowns side.

What is helping the 27-year-old, and indeed Mokwena though, is the player’s versatility. Mkhulise played as many as six different positions last season in his 30 appearances last season.

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This perhaps gives an indication of how Mkhulise has outlasted many of the fellow Sundowns academy products who have had to look for opportunities elsewhere.

Speaking at the pre-match press conference ahead of the Brazilians' clash against Pirates, Mokwena gave plenty of insight into just how versatile Mkhulise has been.

"What’s Mkhulise’s best position?, I think with Pitso (Mkhulise), we are very fortunate because Pitso has got a little bit more of an understanding of all the positions across the midfield line," Mokwena said.

"We played him in a deeper position as a six and he's very comfortable there, even in Champions League games he's played as a six.

"We’ve played him as an eight and he's done very very well there. I think he's a lot more comfortable in that role because he's got the legs and the dynamism to be able to operate in the different lines.

"Because when you're in eight you've got to operate in the line of a six and sometimes operate in the line of the ten and maybe even operate in the areas where you would find full-backs and wingers that invert.

"So I think he has that profile of an eight, I think he specialiwes there but he's a player that can play as a ten also.