Mamelodi Sundowns coach Rulani Mokwena has praised new signings Thapelo Maseko and Ribeiro Costa Lucas following their debut performance for the club.

Maseko and Lucas made their official debuts for the Brazilians in their 2-1 victory over Sekhukhune United in their opening encounter of the DStv Premiership.

Maseko came off the bench to played the final 44 minutes of the games and grabbed an assist, while Lucas started and lasted 69 minutes to score his first goal for Sundowns.

Mokwena says his new signings will need to time to adapt but believes they will only get better as the league continues.

“This is why we brought him. He gives the team something that we didn’t have last season,” Mokwena told his club’s official website.

“A lot of work was done to strengthen the squad in the transfers. At the end of the season I said we won’t do too much business, there will be five coming in and we’ve got our five now.

“And we will settle a little bit and try to improve the team and give them a little bit more confidence.

“They need time. Sometimes I forget myself that [Thapelo] Maseko is only 19. So he’s got a lot of potential and we just have to continue to help him and coach him and try to get him to give even better performances.”

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