Mamelodi Sundowns coach Manqoba Mngqithi has heaped praise on two of the club’s recent signings.

The reigning Betway Premiership champions have strengthened their squad with four new additions: Kobamelo Kodisang from Moreirense, Keegan Johannes from SuperSport United, Arthur Sales from Lommel SK, and Asekho Tiwani from Sekhukhune United. Meanwhile, the club has parted ways with several players, including Bongani Zungu, Gaston Sirino, Promise Mkhuma, Brian Onyango, and Thabiso Kutumela, while selling Nyiko Mobbie and Junior Mendieta.

The former Golden Arrows mentor singled out Kodisang and Sales for particular commendation. “I think we brought the right players for the team to be honest, starting with Kodisang,” he said on the Pitchside podcast.  

“He’s still a little bit unfit, but you can see what the boy is capable of, he is very good, and he had some good finishes as well, he works very hard, a natural winger that can play 10 in a 4-3-3 formation if you want full-backs to be high and wide.  

“But also, if you want isolated wingers, you have him and [Siyabonga] Mabena, they are good in wide channels, Lesiba [Nku] has also shown some very good signs, [Thapelo] Maseko also in that space.”  

Mngqithi was equally enthusiastic about Sales, drawing comparisons to club legend and former PSL Footballer of the Year Surprise Moriri. “Sales the striker, he has something. Many people say he’s very tall, I don’t think he’s very tall, he’s a bit skinny, 1.84m, it might deceive the defenders because he has a very good leap but what I like the most about him is his first touch, he has a very good first touch,” said Mngqithi.  

“A surprise [Moriri] first touch, and he’s got an eye for goal but more than anything else, he’s intelligent, he sees things early and he gets into painful positions at the right time, he’s not there before the ball is played. It makes him dangerous, left-footed, but I saw him use his right which was encouraging, but he’s got something,” he added.  

While excited about Sales’ potential, Mngqithi acknowledged the challenges of adapting to the South African league.“I’m not too sure about his adaptation, sometimes our league is too fast for some of these guys,” he said. 

“But with a good personality, good work ethic, and a very good boy, it will be easy for him to get on with the group and it will be easy for him to adjust because we have a Brazilian [Ribeiro] whom they know each other from Belgium.”  

Sales impressed during his time in Belgium, contributing 10 goals and three assists in 31 appearances for Lommel SK