Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Manqoba Mngqithi is confident his team is hitting their stride at the right moment, with their performances across all competitions starting to show the dominance they are known for. After a mixed start to the season, which included losses in the MTN8 and a defeat in the Betway Premiership, Sundowns have recently delivered dominant victories, including a 4-0 win over Kaizer Chiefs and a 3-0 triumph against Cape Town City.
With the CAF Champions League group stages approaching, Mngqithi is pleased with the team’s improvement and believes they are entering a crucial phase of the season with momentum. He credits the team’s depth and rotation for their ability to manage player workload and remain fresh.
“We’re excited that many players have been rotated, meaning they haven’t had too much strain on their legs. We are hoping to sustain our performances and maintain this momentum,” said Mngqithi. “After scoring the first couple of goals in our recent matches, I could sense we were slowing down, and I wanted more consistency in how we approached the game. But despite that, it’s encouraging to see the quality the players are showing.”
Mngqithi also discussed the impact of Sundowns’ captain, Ronwen Williams, whose absence due to injury coincided with the club’s three losses this season. While acknowledging Williams’ leadership and quality, Mngqithi was careful not to downplay the contributions of the club’s other goalkeepers.
“We know Ronwen’s quality, but Denis Onyango had a solid performance against Polokwane City before his red card, and Jody February made some crucial saves against Stellenbosch,” Mngqithi explained. “Ronwen brings a lot, not just with his performance, but his leadership within the group, which is valuable. However, we cannot overlook the contributions of the other keepers. It’s important to recognize that our defensive mistakes, not the goalkeeper’s quality, have been the main issue in our defeats.”
Mngqithi’s focus now is on ensuring his players remain fresh and continue building towards the crucial stages of the season. “We wanted to peak at this stage, so we’re pleased that many of our key players haven’t accumulated too many games just yet,” he concluded. With the team finding their rhythm, Sundowns are poised for a strong finish to the year.
