Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso has backed Brayan Leon to rediscover his best form, insisting that the Colombian striker must concentrate on working for the team rather than putting himself under pressure to score goals.

Leon made an impressive start after joining Sundowns from Colombian club Independiente Medellín in January last year. The striker finished the previous campaign with 15 goals and two assists in 26 appearances, quickly establishing himself as an important attacking option for the Tshwane giants.

However, the forward has struggled to reproduce those numbers this season, managing three goals and one assist in 13 appearances. His reduced output has attracted attention, but Cardoso believes Leon has the ability to regain his confidence and become more effective in front of goal.

The Sundowns coach explained that strikers can sometimes make things difficult for themselves when they become too focused on scoring. Instead, he wants Leon to concentrate on his responsibilities, work hard for his teammates and trust that goals will come naturally.

“Brayan Leon will find, for sure, the right mindset, stability and freedom to play without pressure, because a player who plays under pressure to score does not necessarily have to score,” Cardoso said.

The Portuguese coach also emphasised the importance of effort and teamwork, explaining that Sundowns have several players capable of contributing goals.

“He has to fight a lot. If he fights hard, plays for the team and understands the behaviours, other players will score the goals we need if he does not,” Cardoso added.

Although Cardoso would prefer all his strikers to score consistently, he remains satisfied with the team's overall attacking performances. He believes Sundowns' collective contribution in front of goal is more important than the statistics of an individual player. Masandawana will face Durban City in the league this weekend before turning their attention to the CAF Super Cup the following week. The match against Durban City will be their final fixture before the next FIFA international break, making it another opportunity for Leon to build confidence and contribute to the team's success.

Meanwhile, former Bafana Bafana striker Katlego Mphela has given supporters a glimpse of his life away from football by celebrating his daughter's academic achievements.

Mphela took to his Instagram stories on Tuesday to celebrate his first-born daughter's outstanding academic success. He shared a photo of himself beaming with pride beside her at a prize-giving ceremony at her school. According to Mphela, she won four major awards at the event, a remarkable achievement that left him overjoyed. He captioned the image simply, "Congratulations baby girl," expressing his love and pride. The photo shows father and daughter smiling for the camera, capturing a tender and heartwarming family moment that fans rarely see from the football star.

The former striker's message highlighted his pride in his daughter's hard work and success, offering a personal moment beyond his achievements on the pitch. While Sundowns prepare for their upcoming fixtures, Mphela's celebration is a reminder that football figures also cherish family milestones away from the game.

Source: IDiskiTimes