‘Train hard, fight easy’ – Motsepe addresses Mamelodi Sundowns’ poor post-Mokwena form

Published on 18 Jul 2024 at 22:37 by Willis Sob

Steve Komphela and Manqoba Mngqithi are yet to help Masandawana win a match in preparations for the new season.

Mamelodi Sundowns chairman Thlopie Motsepe is not over-concerned despite his team's poor pre-season form.

The Brazilians are currently in Austria where they have played two friendly games so far. They lost 2-1 against German third-division outfit SV Sandhausen before another 1-0 defeat to Dynamo Kyiv.

There are early concerns among the club's faithful who feel Masandawana might take a long time to adjust after Rulani Mokwena's exit to Wydad Athletic Club a couple of days ago following his firing.

The Brazilians have now lost all their last four games – including the Premier Soccer League defeat to Cape Town City followed by Orlando Pirates' triumph in the Nedbank Cup.

It seems like there has been new developments regarding the next role of Manqoba Mngqithi at the club with agent appearing to be contradicting previous statements about his client's position within the club. Significant changes have taken place in the Tshwane giants technical team with Rulani Mokwena departing the club last week. Sundowns moved swiftly to add a new member to the coaching contingent with Steve Komphela returning to assume his role as Senior Coach which was previously held by Mngqithi under Mokwena. Last week, Mngqithi’s agent Mike Makaab said the former Golden Arrows coach would not be appointed as either a head coach or an assistant coach. WHAT DID MIKE MAKAAB SAY ABOUT MANQOBA MNGQITHI’S FUTURE LAST WEEK? “It’s a different position that I can’t discuss, it’s not an assistant, but not a head coach, it’s something pretty different but on the coaching side, which I think is unique in South African football but not unique to European football,” said Makaab on Extra-time on Gagasi FM. “I am confident that during the course of this week we will finalise a deal for Manqoba,” he added. “The majority of the terms of the agreement have been agreed and it obviously it was difficult for us, probably more difficult for Mamelodi Sundowns to bring it to finality because we didn’t know what was happening behind the scenes, and Mamelodi Sundowns obviously knew that these discussions were on-going with coach Rulani. “I guess that’s why there has been this delay, I am hoping that, now that the dust is starting to settle, cause it’s a big change, we’ll finally put pen to paper and put all of this speculation aside.” In a surprising turn of events, Makaab stated that Mngqithi will be the new head coach of Sundowns, with Komphela assisting. FRESH UPDATE ON MNGQITHI’S NEW POSITION AT SUNDOWNS “Manqoba was the Senior Coach assisting Rulani Mokwena,” he said on GagasiFM‘s Extra-Time on Monday. “So, at this stage, Manqoba will take over as the Head Coach, and again it will be clarified over the weeks and months to come, and Steve Komphela returns as the Senior Coach. “It’s always been the case that they’ve worked incredibly well together, they have enormous respect for each other. “And I think it’s a very smart move by Mamelodi Sundowns Sundowns to bring Steve back.” — Manqoba Mngqithi, Steve Komphela and Goolam Valodia – Picture by Mamelodi Sundowns

‘Sundowns are preparing for the Fifa Club World Cup'

The South African giants are among the four teams that will represent Africa in the expanded Fifa Club World Cup that will be played in the United States in 2025. Motsepe argues Downs are heading in the right direction.

“What is happening at the club, is we are actually in the process of trying to make sure that we are set in the best position possible to make this one of the best seasons we’re [going to] have in our history,” Motsepe told the media.

Marcelo Allende Mamelodi Sundowns — Marcelo Allende vs Dynamo Kyiv Image: Mamelodi Sundowns

“I don’t want to misquote Muhammad Ali, but there’s a boxing quote that says, ‘You train hard so you can fight easy’. If you look at the quality of opponents that we are facing in this pre-season, they are respectfully very strong, challenging football clubs.

“The results that we’re seeing now is us setting ourselves up against the caliber that we might find ourselves playing against in the [2025 Fifa] Club World Cup. That’s what we’re doing right now so that as the season progresses, we’re ready.”

Masandawana's next outing will be against English Championship side Cardiff on Tuesday, before playing Neymar's Al-Hilal three days later.

Willis Sob

Author

Willis Sob is an experienced journalist who has been in the game since 2009, covering major assignments around the continent.
His hunger for African football is unmatched, always getting the best angles and facts to feed the fans and quench their thirst.