YANNICK’S CHANCE TO PROVE HIMSELF
Mosimane believes in-form Tau can help Ivorian striker Zakri end his goal drought
WITH Khama Billiat and Anthony Laffor out injured, Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane says there is no time like the present for goal-shy Ivoirian striker Yannick Zakri to step up to the plate.
The Brazilians host Chippa United in an Absa Premiership clash at Loftus Versfeld tonight in what is the only midweek fixture – which allows the CAF Champions League winners to play catch-up, having fallen behind by five games during their quest for continental success last year.
Zakri, who arrived at Sundowns at the start of the 2016-17 season from Asec Mimosas, and has shown glimpses of being a quality player, is yet to score for his new club. Mosimane has been patient with Zakri, especially after he was held back by a groin injury shortly after making his debut in September.
But the unavailability of match-winners Billiat and Laffor has brought back the spotlight on his recently-acquired forward.
“He needs a goal,” Mosimane said of Zakri. “He and Sibusiso Vilakazi must lead us now in the next couple of matches. I think Khama and Anthony will miss at least four games. Unfortunately, he needs time to understand how the team plays, but the sad part is that you can’t buy time.
“I think if he plays next to Percy Tau (Sundowns’ top scorer) he will improve. We also have Leonardo Castro, who has been on the bench for sometime now, he is hungry and wants to show that he deserves to play more.”
Zakri benefited from Mosimane’s squad rotation when Sundowns visited Chippa, two weeks ago in Mdantsane, where the two sides played to a 1-1 draw.
The Ivoirian’s work rate was a highlight, but he again failed to score. It was a similar story at the weekend in the Brazilians’ 2-0 win over fellow championship contenders Bidvest Wits at Loftus – Zakri and Tau frustrating the Clever Boys’ back four, but the former was unlucky not to be among the scorerson the night, as Sundowns cut the lead at the top to just three points.
“The complicated and challenging part at Sundowns is not our defence, but up front,” said Mosimane, who has chopped and changed his forwards on several occasions so far this season, as he tries to manage his squad and pick what he has often called “the right specimen” for a particular match.
“We play in patterns at Sundowns. You can’t just play the way you want. Zakri is a free-spirited player and he just wants the ball in front of him and just wants to run.
“At Sundowns you move in a certain way. Look at Themba Zwane, he is not very quick, but he knows how we play as a team.”
Mosimane praised Zakri’s efforts in the stalemate against Chippa a fortnight ago, but wants to finally see him end his goal drought as an end product.
“He was okay in that game and he fought again in Rustenburg (when he came off the bench in a 2-1 win away to Platinum Stars last Tuesday). I think slowly he will adjust.”
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