Polokwane City head coach Willy Moloto has explained why Thabang Matuludi hasn’t been in the squad in the last two games, saying there is no big story behind it.
Matuludi has been linked with a move to Orlando Pirates, and is yet to feature for Rise and Shine in the new campaign.
After missing the first match due to suspension, Matuludi wasn’t in the squad in their MTN8 quarter-final defeat to Mamelodi Sundowns and again in Tuesday’s 3-3 draw with Stellenbosch FC.
However, Moloto insisted it’s a matter of giving other players a chance and not changing a winning team.
“There no such. Every time when people don’t see a player then this [rumours] – ‘no, no, no’,” he replied when asked about Matuludi’s absence by iDiski Times.
“Remember, Matuludi also was with Bafana Bafana, and he also got some knock in training and the team has been doing well.
“So sometimes there is no need for you – if it’s not broken, why do you have to fix it?
“For him, he’ll get his chance. There are a lot of games, let’s give a youngster a chance. He did well, even though he had some mistake in the first half but he managed to equalise for us and he managed to stabilise at the back for us.
“The aim is also to introduce new players, because if we keep on saying ‘Thabang, Thabang’… Tomorrow Thabang is not available, who are we going to use?”
When asked to clarify whether Matuludi’s absence is linked to an injury or rotation, the coach insisted it’s about continuity more than anything else.
“It’s not about rotation – remember the firs game Matuludi was suspended. When he came back, we just came back from a win,” he added.
“So we cannot change a team from a win. And look at us, we played Sundowns and we did well. I just have to say let me have a continuity in the team.
“And it has to come up to freshen up the team, maybe who knows I might use him over the weekend.”