Head coach Rulani Mokwena has sent a stark warning to midfielder Bongani Zungu following Mamelodi Sundowns' win over Richards Bay in the Nedbank Cup.
The 30-year-old midfielder made only his second start of the season for the Brazilians and put in a full shift as Sundowns collected a hard-fought 3-2 win over Richards Bay on Tuesday.
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Since joining Sundowns on a free transfer in August, Zungu has made just eight appearances across all competitions with questions being raised regarding his place in the team.
"Football has very little regard for name, reputation or money and value or whatever. Football says what do you put in and invest? and because you put in and invest, it gives back," Mokwena said.
"So, Zungu has to understand that he has to compete with everybody, and that's life, because life is unfair. These are the empowerment values that we try to give to all our players and that everyone must fight for a place on the team.
"Like you fight to achieve things in life, nothing in life is given to you on a silver platter. So you have fight to achieve a starting place in this team. You have to fight to be in very good physical condition and concentrate because those are the values that life will demand from you."
Sundowns progressed to the last 16 of the Nedbank Cup but will turn their immediate attention to a CAF Champions League fixture against Al Hilal of Friday.
