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Cape Town - In the absence of the injured Khama Billiat and Anthony Laffor, Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane says Yannick Zakri and Sibusiso Vilakazi need to deliver the goods.
Billiat has been Sundowns' leading talisman for the last few seasons, while Laffor has provided some match-winning performances of his own. But both have been ruled out of Tuesday night's league encounter with Chippa United in Pretoria through injury and could miss several more matches.
Looking to keep the pressure on the teams above them in the league and also competing in the CAF Champions League, Sundowns have some more frenetic months ahead of them.
And with injuries and suspensions inevitable, Mosimane is looking to the entire squad to play their part.
Zakri, the striker who arrived from ASEC Mimosas at the start of the season, is yet to score for the Brazilians.
Vilakazi meanwhile is yet to consistently make the kind of impact he did as a goal-scoring midfielder at former team Bidvest Wits.
"He (Zakri) needs a goal," Mosimane told IOL.
"He and Sibusiso Vilakazi must lead us now in the next couple of matches. I think Khama and Anthony will miss at least four games. Unfortunately, (Zakri) needs the time to understand how the team plays, but the sad part is that you can’t buy time.
"I think if he plays next to Percy Tau (Sundowns' top scorer) he will improve. We also have Leonardo Castro who has been on the bench for some time now, he is hungry and wants to show that he deserves to play more."
Kick off is at 19:30.
