Cape Town - Mamelodi Sundowns legend Phil Masinga believes the club's strikers are not being effective this season because they are being asked to come too deep to get the ball.
The Brazilians have a wealth of talent up front with Cuthbert Malajila, Katlego Mashego, Fiston Abdul Razak and Leonardo Castro all vying for the striker role, but none of them have been able to make the position his own this season.
The club has managed just 18 goals in 11 games so far with midfielders Themba Zwane and Anthony Laffor leading the scoring charts with three strikes apiece.
Masinga believes the major problem is that the strikers are being asked to play deeper, which limits their chances in the opposition box.
"Most of the time, our strikers spend a lot of time away from the opposition box as they play more like midfielders, and that compromises their goal scoring ability and chances," he told Soccer Laduma.
"Sundowns have scored 18 goals so far and it would be easy for other teams to accept that but, if you are the ambitious side you should be, 18 goals in 11 games shouldn't be enough, and even more so when most of those goals aren't from your strikers.
"So I hope the boys will pick themselves up and start hitting the back of the net on a regular basis soon because the quality is there for everyone to see, " Masinga concluded.
Sundowns are second on the Absa Premiership standings, three points behind leaders Bidvest Wits and will play in the final of the Telkom Knockout against Kaizer Chiefs on Wednesday, December 16.