‘Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose’ – Manqoba Mngqithi
Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Manqoba Mngqithi has reacted following his team’s shock 2-1 defeat to Magesi FC this past weekend.
Masadanwana lost the Carling Knockout Cup final to new PSL boys Magesi despite taking the lead. Dikwena tsa Meetse scored two goals in the second half to deny The Brazilians the Carling KO trophy.
Ex-Mamelodi Sundowns captain Hlompho Kekana said Manqoba Mngqithi’s team was naive after taking the lead.
“The danger is when you lose control of the match,” said Kekana on the Pitchside Podcast. “We had control, and we scored a goal, and then, in the second half, we became so naive in a sense that you’re leading with a goal, and it’s not yet clear. I felt we opened the midfield too early.
Manqoba Mngqithi feeling the heat
“You win the final; it doesn’t matter how many goals you score in a final. Try to consolidate it, try to be safe. You’ve scored, but it’s not yet clear. Something you cannot reverse or rewind and look at again. But what I know is that mistakes cost us—that mistake of opening the midfield too early, especially in that crucial moment where you have a goal, a cushion. Try to find balance.”
Since taking over from Rulani Mokwena in July, Manqoba Mngqithi has failed to win the MTN8 and Carling KO. After Saturday’s defeat, the KZN-born coach said the loss was unfortunate
“In football, you must know that sometimes you will win, sometimes you lose,” he said.
“It is very unfortunate that in a competition where you have scored 12 goals in four matches and only conceded two, you lose that competition.
“Because that is the most sore point where, when I won the MTN8 with Golden Arrows, I think we scored 11 goals and conceded one.
“This time around, we have scored 12, conceded two, but we are out without the cup. And for me, that was a very good return.
“But unfortunately, when it mattered most, that’s when we let it go,” Manqoba Mngqithi concluded.
Will Mngqithi survive this season?
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