Was George Lebese to Mamelodi Sundowns the right move?

George Lebese completed his homecoming on Thursday afternoon when Kaizer Chiefs confirmed that a deal had been struck with Mamelodi Sundowns .

The 28-year-old has certainly found life difficult over the past 12 months under coach Steve Komphela and a move to Chloorkop for the Mamelodi-born winger has long been touted. Nonetheless, Goal looks at why Sundowns was the right club for Lebese.

Lebese’s move has been motivated by the lack of game time that he has experienced over the past season, and knowing that Sundowns’ coach Pitso Mosimane has reportedly been a long-term admirer of him could only have influenced Lebese’s decision positively.

Furthermore, the former Amakhosi star will be expected to play an important role for the Brazilians this season as he has been earmarked to fill the void left by Montpellier playmaker Keagan Dolly, which would only boost Lebese’s confidence further.

Lebese is a confidence player and someone who thrives on being given important roles, and if there is any coach that can get the best out of him, it is the Sundowns coach. But whether or not he will go on to have the same effect as his predecessor is still a mystery. After spending close to nine years at Naturena what Lebese is guaranteed to bring to the club is big match temperament, something which will come in handy at the African Champions where he will face a baptism of fire when he plays in front of hostile crowds around the continent.

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Lebese will now also have the opportunity to test himself against the very best players the continent has to offer which would have surely crossed his mind when he agreed to join Sundowns. Caf football is something that will benefit Lebese tremendously and although, he has reached the prime of his career, playing in Caf competitions can only bode well for his chances of once again re-entering the national team fray.

Meanwhile, Lebese is also a perfect fit for the Tshwane giants as he suits their style of play. While at Chiefs Komphela preferred his wingers to hog the touch line, at Sundowns Mosimane allows for a more free flowing and expressive approach which would have Lebese licking his lips at the prospect of dazzling opposition defences.

However, Lebese will need to be wary that competition for places at Sundowns is strong and he cannot afford to rest on his reputation alone.Themba Zwane was one of Sundowns’ standout players last season and it is unlikely that he will immediately make way for their newest signing. So, if Lebese is to solidify his place in a team which has some of the continent’s best players on offer, he will need to prove his worth and chip in with goals, something which he is more than capable of but doesn’t do frequently enough.

Nevertheless, Lebese may be given his debut as early as Sundowns clash against Maritzburg United in the MTN8 Cup on Sunday, and he will need to bring his A-game and the same hunger that he showed in the Glamour Boy’s preseason, if he has any hopes of succeeding at Sundowns.