WeeklySA_AdminALARM BELLS: O SHOESHINE, NO PIANO FROM BAFANA BA STYLE UNDER MNQITHI SO FAR
By Ali Mphaki
The clock is ticking fast for Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Manqoba Mnqithi and his assistant Steve Komphela ahead of their team’s MTN8 second leg encounter with the marauding Stellenbosch FC pencilled for the Mabhida stadium in Durban on Sunday.
Sundowns suffered their first loss of the season in the first leg of the MTN8 semi-final, in a 1-0 thriller on Wednesday night at Lucas Moripe Stadium.
The Brazilians were aiming to emerge victorious in this home encounter, so they may head to the second leg with the upper hand, but it was not be.
Prior to the first leg encounter coach Manqoba had said his charges have had enough time to prepare for the first leg of the MTN8 semi-final, and were ready to take on Stellenbosch FC. This comes after Masandawna won 1-0 against Polokwane City two weekends ago in the quarterfinal.
“I think the preparations have gone well. We have had enough time to prepare for this game, making me believe the team is ready for the match. We had a four-day cycle to prepare for this match, when normally, our maximum time to prepare is two or three days. So, we are fortunate this time around to have had four days. I think everybody has adapted well,” At the final whistle, Manqoba reviewed the game, saying:
“We created opportunities that could have easily given us the game but unfortunately, we committed very silly errors because I think if you look where the penalty comes from, we had a free-kick, and I think we were five around the ball. We tried what I think was a very unproductive combination play, because there was no clarity on what we were trying to do. The fact that the Stellenbosch goalkeeper was man of the match proves that we did our part,” he added.
Reading into Manqoba’s words its obvious Masandawana are suffering some identity crisis.
Unhappy fans have also questioned the type of football they play, lambasting the direct and long ball approach as not suited to Bafana Ba Style.
“Let out players play the ball the way they are used to, those long balls will come spontaneously, let it not be pre-occupation of the players,”
Former Kaizer Chiefs winger Junior Khanye did not mince his words and heavily criticised Manqoba Mngqithi even calling for his head following Mamelodi Sundowns’ 1-0 loss to Stellenbosch on Wednesday evening.
“Manqoba Mngqithi must take the blame. You can’t change the way these players play. This team has been playing their brand of football for many years, and they won so many trophies as they have an identity,” he said on iDiskiTV.
“Tonight, Sundowns played as if they didn’t have any midfielders. They started the ball from the back and played it past the midfielder to the forwards. This is not the team’s strength and you can’t make Mishishi(Themba Zwane) your impact player, he is too slow. Yes, Mshishi knows football, he is a star but for him to come from the bench and win you a game, it’s not easy, especially given the speed Stellenbosch were playing,” Khanye added
“He can’t be the head coach for Sundowns, the team is too big for him. He is going to have a problem trying to coach this team.
Mngqithi will hope to turn things around when Sundowns travel to eThekwini to play Stellies in the second leg this weekend.
Kick off 3pm
