Mamelodi Sundowns coach Manqoba Mngqithi is not worried about his team's low start to the domestic 2024/25 season.
The Premier Soccer League champions were recently eliminated from the MTN8 by Stellenbosch. They are yet to score a goal in regulation time despite playing three competitive matches.
However, the former AmaZulu tactician is not worried about what has happened, insisting this has been a norm for the Brazilians.
Sundowns will come back stronger! Mngqithi NOT panicking
“I’m not panicking at this stage, because I know sometimes with MTN8, all the years that I have been here in this club, I don’t know what happens in the beginning stages of the season,” he conceded.
“We always struggle, sometimes, and at this stage, it’s worse because most of your key players are the ones that are not hitting the top gear, but we are hoping that we will still come back stronger.”
Last season, Masandawana reached the final of the annual competition but were undone by the defending champions Orlando Pirates who are aiming at making it three triumphs in as many campaigns.
However, to achieve that, the Jose Riveiro-led team will have to get past Stellenbosch.
Sundowns MTN8 elimination ‘just unfortunate'
Mngqithi has justified his fielding and went on to indicate that it was ‘just unfortunate' that his team missed out on making the final.
“I’m very happy with the substitutions that we made. I think Aubrey [Modiba] at left-back really, really gave us something after Terrence’s [Mashego] injury. I also think Thapelo [Morena]on the other side did very well,” he continued.
“We had to go for speed at the back and that’s why we played [Khuliso] Mudau as a center-back to try and say, ‘Even if it is a one-against-one at the back, let’s try and have more numbers in the attack'.
“We created good situations. [Kobamelo] Kodisang came in and really gave a good account of himself. Lebo [Maboeng] gave a good account of himself. Thapelo really I think he did very well in the minutes that he had. I think it’s not bleak, but it’s just unfortunate,” Mngqithi concluded.
After the international break, Sundowns play Mbabane Swallows in the first leg of the Caf Champions League's second preliminary round on September 13 before playing SuperSport United four days later in a Premier Soccer League engagement.
