Marcelo Allende’s engine to run the whole game by breaking the play, manoeuvre in spaces and build up the attacks has left Mamelodi Sundowns coach Rulani Mokwena calling him a “special player”.
Allende, since the season started, has played all five league matches and finally scooped the Man of the Match award after so many cries on social media when Sundowns defeated Chippa United recently.
He was again at his best as his engine ran without having a stop, crafting things for Sundowns as they beat Richards Bay 1-0 at King Zwelithini Stadium last Wednesday.
In tight spaces, when everyone thought they have got it, he slips away and again he is on the move and looking for the ball as soon as he releases.
Of course it is early in the season, but he has arguably been the best player thus far in the league for Sundowns, who are perching the DStv Premiership table with 15 points after five wins.
The good thing about the 24-year-old Chilean, who arrived in this country as the most expensive player signed by Sundowns last year, looks to have settled and speaks English well, as he was a translator to Argentine attacker Junior Mendieta, who scored the winning goal against Bay in the first half.
“No, he is special,” Mokwena replied to iDiski Times when asked about Allende.
“He had the whole season to settle [last term], he knows his teammates, he knows the environment, it helps that he knows the coach also, he knows the ideas on how we want to play.
“A very intelligent footballer and such a good football player. But we have good football players in this team and he happens to be one of them.”
Sundowns might have started slow in their play, but they have a 100 percent record of wins in five matches, matching Kaizer Chiefs who did it twice and Orlando Pirates, but the team is progressing and sending an enormous warning to the rest of challengers for the title.
This flawless start is unlike last season, when they won three of their opening five games and lost in the sixth round to SuperSport United, which was the last time they lost a league game.
“Nothing’s changed,” Mokwena said when he was asked what has changed this season from last term.
“It is just that the players know each other better. There is a good continuity, there is a lot of hard work that the technical team is working hard on.
“We have a very good squad and of course that makes a very good difference.”
Sundowns’ biting schedule has given them a short breather over the weekend before they host Polokwane City on Wednesday.
