Mosimane warns against overloading rising star Keagan Dolly

29 June 2016 - 13:16 By Chumani Bambani

Keagan Dolly is a wanted man and Pitso Mosimane has warned against overworking the much sought after Mamelodi Sundowns star. Dolly has been one of the busiest players in South African football over the past year with his services desperately required by his club Mamelodi Sundowns‚ the SA under-23 side and Bafana Bafana.Mosimane has repeatedly warned that over-working the 23-year-old would wear down the midfield maestro.With Downs gearing up for their crucial CAF Champions League clash against Enyimba on Wednesday‚ Dolly sat out Monday's training session as a precautionary measure.“He has shin splints‚” Mosimane revealed.“Normally‚ when you diagnose deeper‚ it’s [because of work] overload.”Pitso clarifies Downs' position on Dolly at the OlympicsKeagan Dolly will definitely be made available for the Olympic Games‚ but not for friendly warm-up matches‚ said Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane clarifying his understanding of the key attacker’s utilisation in the coming weeks. Despite the concern over the midfielder‚ Dolly is set to remain a key member of the starting XI that will represent the Brazilians in Atteridgeville at 7.30pm on Wednesday.“It’s just a small little knock‚ I think I’ll be good to play on Wednesday‚” Dolly said confidently.Dolly had been one of the key figures to spearhead the Pretoria side to the domestic league crown in the past season.He is now an instrumental figure for Downs in their ambitions of continental glory.Furthermore‚ the 23-year-old is set to be part of spine that will carry the hopes of the under-23 team that will go to Rio to represent SA at the Olympic Games.A Dolly good show, KeaganThe double strike Keagan Dolly fired for Bafana Bafana against Gambia in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier last weekend left a great calling card: the boy is fast becoming a man. Thereafter‚ he is set to return to the senior national team to assist Shakes Mashaba’s in their mission to qualify for the World Cup in 2018.Dolly said he was impressed with his under-23 colleagues after they won the Cosafa Cup in his absence at the weekend.“The boys fought well. It wasn’t easy‚ it was a difficult tournament‚ but they showed character and fought hard. The whole team put in a good shift. I just hope they enjoy their trip to Japan‚ and can take the positives out of Cosafa and their trip to Japan‚” said Dolly.“I’m happy with what I see‚ but I am a bit sad that I couldn’t be with the boys. I have a job to do with Sundowns and I’m very happy to be here‚ helping the team. We’ve always wanted to be in the Champions League and showcase to Africa and the world that football in South Africa is growing.“Hopefully before the Olympics I get to rejoin the under-23 side for one or two camps.”Delightful Dolly SA's Rio trump cardSouth Africa's Under-23 coach Owen da Gama says midfield player Keagan Dolly is the team's "Neymar", and as such has been allowed to join Mamelodi Sundowns in the CAF Champions League this month, hopefully in return for his participation in the Rio Olympic Games in August. What pleases Dolly is that both club and country have reached an agreement on how he is utilised.“It makes one happy to see that you are needed [on] both sides. I’m just happy that the teams – both country and club – came to the agreement that I’ll be working both sides‚” he said.“For now my focus is on the Champions League‚ then the Olympics and after that I’ll start focusing on Bafana if I get the call up.” - TMG Digital..

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