Despite Mamelodi Sundowns’ slow start to the new football season, the club’s head coach Manqoba Mngqithi says he’s not panicking.
The mighty Sundowns, league champions for the last seven years, were dumped out of the MTN8 by Stellenbosch FC on the weekend.
The Cape Winelands side secured a 1-0 win in Durban to complete a 2-0 aggregate win over the Brazilians, who were beaten by Orlando Pirates in last year’s final. Stellies had earlier beaten Sundowns 1-0 in the first leg in Pretoria.
After securing a seventh league title last season, the club gave head coach Rulani Mokwena the boot and put number two Mngqithi at the wheel.
Under Mngqithi, the club’s start to the season has not been convincing. But, the coach feels it’s too soon to start pushing the panic button.
“I’m not panicking at this stage,” Mngqithi said after the match at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.
“Because I know sometimes with MTN8, all the years that I’ve been here in this club, I don’t know what happens in the beginning stages of the season.
“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,” said the Downs’ mentor.
Sundowns will need to get up to speed fast as they begin their CAF Champions League campaign with a clash against Mbabane Swallows F.C. from Eswatini on September 13.
IOL Sport