Allende needs more in the back of the net

Allende needs more in the back of the net

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Rulani Mokwena has been bemoaning the fact that his diminutive Chilean midfielder Marcelo Allende has not won more man of the match awards.

Allende finally got one on Saturday in the 2-0 away win over Chippa United in Gqeberha and received lavish praise afterwards from the boss.

Earlier in the month, Mokwena said: “To this day, it boggles my mind how a player like Marcelo Allende doesn’t have a man of the match award.”

The 24-year-old Chilean midfielder is very much the conductor of the Sundowns team, constantly looking for the ball and seeking to break through the opposition while hovering dangerously around the edge of the penalty area.

However, if there is one weakness in his game, it is the fact he is not scoring more.

But to date he has not needed to, because Peter Shalulile has been finding the net regularly.

Now that Shalulile is out with a hamstring injury, Allende will, among others, be expected to pick up the scoring slack.

Allende is the top earner at Sundowns, having cost them a record fee too, and the man they hope will lead them to continental glory later this season in the African Champions League.