Shalulile backed to bounce back 

Sundowns head coach Rhulani Mokwena says star striker Peter Shalulile is doing everything right to overcome his slump in form.

Shalulile is struggling to rediscover his scoring touch, exacerbated by a poor showing at the Africa Cup of Nations with Namibia in Ivory Coast.

The Namibian international failed to score for a fourth consecutive league match on Sunday when the South African champions were held 1-1 at home by Orlando Pirates.

Mokwena remains in the hard-working forward’s corner and believes it’s only a matter of time before Shalulile rediscovers his mojo.

“He puts a lot of pressure on himself to score. He’s performing at Afcon and not scoring. You can see he’s carrying it a little bit, but okay, he will overcome that, because all good strikers have good and not-so-good moments,” he says.

“What I like about Peter is that his overall game contribution is very good. He presses and assists us,” Mokwena says.

“But that level of selfishness of knowing that I’ve got to score and contribute to the success of the team is the quality that top strikers have. I think that’s something Peter has, and he puts a lot of pressure on himself to score and help the team win.”

Shalulile could get back on the score sheet when Sundowns take on little-known NB La Masia in a Nedbank Cup [FA Cup] last 32 clash today.

NB La Masia, from the western end of Johannesburg, have been paired with Masandawana in the Nedbank Cup and are embracing a moment which they hope will be part of a successful season.

Under Daine Klate, the 2022 ABC Motsepe League winners are fighting for their second promotion in three seasons, but will not allow the visit of the African Football League winners to distract them.

“It’s more excitement. I think our boys took it really well when we broke it to them. Ideally, it is a platform for us.

“I said to the players they get to create their own luck in terms of where they want to go as a footballer. I’ve told them to use this platform to showcase their talents,” La Masia’s chief executive, Rashid Toffie, told Sports Brief.