Mngqithi Credits Collective Effort In Helping Shalulile

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Manqoba Mngqithi has revealed how the club helped Peter Shalulile bounce back to scoring after the former Highlands Park striker was struggling to find the back of the net.
The 31-year-old has four goals in all competitions this season now for Sundowns, with the fourth coming when they hammered Kaizer Chiefs in the Carling Knockout quarter-final on Saturday.
According to Mngqithi, everyone at Sundowns supported Shalulile during his hard time as he struggled to score goals.
“I wouldn’t want to take credit for his [Shalulile] turnaround, because I think it firstly starts from him,” Mngqithi said.
“He’s one of the best professionals I’ve ever worked with. He’s one of the hardest-working players I’ve ever worked with. Everyone on the team, the coaching staff, the supporting staff, and everyone within the club was always wishing Peter the best of luck because we were dealing with a case here of somebody who does everything that you want from a professional footballer. That focus made everybody always pour positive energy towards him that it will come.
“The least that we did as coaches was not to lose faith in him, but we always try and play him in some matches where we play him in some tough opponents because we want him to break this curse [of not scoring goals]. Fortunately, he managed it through, but I wouldn’t want to steal the fame and create an impression that I did any extraordinary to help him.
“I think it was a group collective, but it starts from the person that he is because everybody could not help but wish Peter all the best. I’m sure all of us were also keeping him in our prayers to make sure that he comes back.”
Shalulile and his team-mate will now face Polokwane City on Wednesday in the Betway Premiership at Loftus Stadium.
This will be the second round match as they faced each other last month in Polokwane where the Brazilians lost 1-0, and Shalulile will be hoping to score his fifth goal of the season against Rise and Shine.