Mamelodi Sundowns coach Rulani Mokwena has explained how he deals with and maintains the young players within the squad since they earned their promotion to the senior team.

Cassius Mailula, who was promoted to the first team this season, has by far been one of the club’s standout performances this season since making his debut against La Passe FC at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in the Caf Champions League.

The 21-year-old has been ever-present in the Sundowns squad and has bagged 14 goals and assisted a further four from 25 appearances across all competitions this season.

Mokwena says he has warned the young players in the first team that they need to be patient in their development and focus on being competitive to earn their place in the starting line up.

“The young ones we give them chances, I have a different way of working with the young ones. You see them in and then immediately out and it’s only because we have a plan for these things,” Mokwena told his club’s official website.

“Sometimes society is about instant gratification and one performance for the young ones they [begin to think] ‘I’ve arrived’, you’ve got to quickly remind them that there’s still quite a long way to go.

“They’ve got to work for these things, they’ve got to be competitive. The moment you get into sports you sign up and agree that you will compete, and that’s the first starting point of the competition.

“It’s to compete for a place in the team and that’s the same for all these young ones.”

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