Mamelodi Sundowns co head coach Rulani Mokwena has praised striker Pavol Safranko’s selflessness after his impact in their 4-1 win over Orlando Pirates on the weekend.
Safranko came off the bench to score a brace for the DStv Premiership leaders, and Mokwena was delighted by the big Slovakian’s impact.
In their previous match, a 2-1 win against Baroka, Safranko had also come off the bench, as an early substitute, but was then himself substituted later in the game with Sundowns down to ten men.
When asked by iDiski Times about Safranko’s situation, Mokwena explained that the striker had shown to be selfless, and understood the team’s situation, and so he was delighted to see him rewarded in the following game.
“This is the exactly that, Rob, very important for the takeout,” Mokwena said at the post match presser.
“It’s a big lesson for football players. Selfless football players always succeed.
“And the universe has a way of rewarding people who are not selfish. Pavol understood the sacrifice that we had to make, and we had to make it for the team.
” And then he accepts and he understands that the team needed to make that sort of change. And fortunately for us, in that moment, the change also worked.
“And then when it works, and with a clear, humble understanding from the football player, there’s then an opportunity presented because the player then does not keep a long face and drag his feet and disrespect the coaches on the pitch.
“The player has huge humility, he works hard and respects the club more than anything else.
“Pavol showed that he respects the club. And when you do that, we have huge admiration and appreciation, not just for you as a football player, but as a human being.
“And this is what the gentle giant showed, he shows that he is a very good person, but a good person that is prepared to help the team to be able to achieve its objectives.
“And yeah, kudos to him and thank you to him also.
“And many of the other substitutes to be honest, but in particular to Pavol for helping us, because that sort of reaction helps us to align the behaviour in the change room. And that’s very, very important.”
