Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso has opened up on the ‘quality’ of new signing Jayden Adams and his quick adaptation in the squad.
Sundowns lured Adams to the club after a long-protracted transfer saga that began at the start of the season with Stellenbosch.
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They eventually landed him in January in a deal that could reach as high as R20-million and view him as one of the most talented midfielders in South African football.
And the South Africa international has hit the ground running, with two cameos against Sibanye Golden Stars and Golden Arrows, before earning starts in convincing wins over SuperSport United 3-0 and the 4-1 win over Orlando Pirates.
“What I said? I keep it, when a player comes to our club and faces a group of players who has quality – he needs to perform everyday, in the training sessions, embrace the spirit of the club, the values of the team, if he does, he will play when the chances are there,” he said.
“Jayden and others like Lucas [Suarez], and Matias [Esquivel] is also doing [well], they embrace the spirit, so the coach gets more calm, because the adaptation is done. When you have quality, adaptation is something that comes quickly.”
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Adams slotted seamlessly into Cardoso’s midfield three alongside Marcelo Allende and Teboho Mokoena and looked to be elevating their attacking output.
“You just need to embrace your reality, relate with the others [teammates], accept what is happening and then really share the values. They share the values of our locker room which are very strong, we don’t accept a lack of commitment to these values.
“Lack of commimtment to the values can take you out of the team, commitment will put you in – because we know these players have quality, then we give one opportunity and they take it.
“If they take it, they can continue and play more, if they don’t take it…. it’s my responsibility to put them on this level of performance, but they need to share these values as it puts them one step ahead of being able to adapt. Jayden shows character so we put him in to play, he is quality player, you all know that, you knew this before me.”
Adams will be aiming to continue this impressive run of form with the view of returning to the Bafana Bafana squad next month.
