Mamelodi Sundowns coach Manqoba Mngqithi defends misfiring Arthur Sales - 'The adaptation process takes longer than you anticipate'

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Manqoba Mngqithi has come to the defence of the club's under-pressure striker Arthur Sales.

The 22-year-old centre-forward has faced heavy criticism from fans for not scoring enough goals since he joined the one-time Caf Champions League winners at the beginning of the season. 

Downs supporters have been harsh towards him, given that the club allegedly forked out R63 million for his signing when he came from Belgium's Challenger Pro League side Lommel SK.

However, Mngqithi believes that Sales should be afforded time to find his feet in South African football and can only be evaluated afterward.

"I think we will be very unfair if we want to judge a player based on goals scored because sometimes, for a player, the adaptation process takes longer than you anticipate," Mngqithi said on SNAWA. 

"Also, it differs from player to player, from league to league, from country to country. That's why certain players adapt very quickly and play immediately. If you look at the South Americans we've had, maybe it would be Gaston Sirino, Lucas Ribeiro, and Marcelo Allende, who hit the road running as quickly as possible.

"But most of the players have taken a little bit longer to adapt because the speed of the PSL is unbearable to most players, and I wouldn't want us to judge so early," he added. 

"Because what I've seen already is that the player is capable, but unfortunately, we are looking for goals. When you don't find goals, you think the player is not performing well.

Sales has netted just one goal in Sundowns' colours after appearing 11 times across all competitions, and that is not pleasing for the Brazilians' loyal supporters

The Espírito Santo-born striker competes for the striker position against Bafana Bafana international Iqraam Rayners and Namibia national team captain Peter Shalulile.

With South African football fans seemingly lacking patience with foreign players, Sales must turn his situation around and demonstrate that he is worth the reported R63 million he was signed for.

Sales will aim to enhance his unsatisfactory start to life at Sundowns as Mngqithi continues to provide him opportunities to play.

An opportunity to disprove his skeptics awaits him this coming Saturday as Masandawana face Botola Pro League team AS FAR Rabat in the Caf Champions League.