Publications
Partners
Cape Town - Former Bafana Bafana midfielder Helman Mkhalele has called on
Thulani Serero to add goals to his game when he plays for the national
team.
Much is expected of the talented 24-year-old, with former Bafana boss Gordon Igesund dubbing him 'South Africa's Lionel Messi'.
However, Serero has largely failed to shine on the international stage, despite putting in a host of top performances for his club, European giants Ajax Amsterdam.
The emergence of Dean Furman and Andile Jali as a potent defensive midfield pairing means that Serero will be afforded the freedom to adopt a more forward role, and Mkhalele believes he needs to use this opportunity to create and score goals.
"He needs to try to get into good areas in the box. He should be scoring more goals as an attacking midfielder," Mkhalele told the Business Day.
"I think he has played well for the national team, but the expectations are very high because he plays in a top league overseas."
Despite struggling with a thigh injury at the beginning of the week, Serero is expected to start against Sudan in Saturday's Africa Cup of Nations clash with Sudan.
Serero made his international debut in 2011, and has gone on to make 13 appearances for Bafana.
Much is expected of the talented 24-year-old, with former Bafana boss Gordon Igesund dubbing him 'South Africa's Lionel Messi'.
However, Serero has largely failed to shine on the international stage, despite putting in a host of top performances for his club, European giants Ajax Amsterdam.
The emergence of Dean Furman and Andile Jali as a potent defensive midfield pairing means that Serero will be afforded the freedom to adopt a more forward role, and Mkhalele believes he needs to use this opportunity to create and score goals.
"He needs to try to get into good areas in the box. He should be scoring more goals as an attacking midfielder," Mkhalele told the Business Day.
"I think he has played well for the national team, but the expectations are very high because he plays in a top league overseas."
Despite struggling with a thigh injury at the beginning of the week, Serero is expected to start against Sudan in Saturday's Africa Cup of Nations clash with Sudan.
Serero made his international debut in 2011, and has gone on to make 13 appearances for Bafana.
