Mamelodi Sundowns co-coach Manqoba Mngqithi has admitted that his side tried not to expose the fact that the team was missing striker Peter Shalulile.
It was revealed by co-coach Rulani Mokwena last week that Shalulile has a muscular problem which the club is trying to sort out and the Namibian's absence has been there for all to see, with Sundowns struggling in the final third of the pitch in domestic matches.
The 29-year-old has missed Sundowns last two matches against Orlando Pirates and Marumo Gallants and they have managed to find the back of the net just once during that period.
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Shalulile was also not on the pitch when Sundowns beat La Passe from Seychelles 15-1 on aggregate in the CAF Champions League.
It's unclear at this stage when the player will be back for the DStv Premiership champions.
"For sure, we will be lying if we say we do not miss Peter. That is why we tried the best not to expose it to everyone that he is out, because we know everybody knows how dependent we are on his ability to finish our chances, and also to pose a lot of threat. And also his ability to give us a chance from the first line of defence with his high press and speed," Mngqithi said to journalists after the loss to the Buccaneers in the MTN8 semi-final.
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"That, to a certain extent, had an effect on the whole team, but we were consoling ourselves by the number of goals we scored prior to this match, but we knew for a fact that if we don't take our chances, we might be exposed that we don't have a player of Peter Shalulile's calibre."
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