HERMAN GIBBS
The excitement is palpable as Masandawana fans await the big reveal next weekend when Mamelodi Sundowns host Polokwane City in Sunday’s MTN8 quarter-final at the Lucas ‘Masterpieces’ Moripe Stadium, Pretoria.
This will be the second of two MTN8 quarter-finals next weekend. On Saturday, Sekhukhune United will face Cape Town City FC at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane.
Over the past few weeks, Sundowns made drastic management changes and since then, the team has never been in local action. The question most Sundowns fans will be pondering is how the team will perform without Rulani Mokwena, the former coach.
In the wake of Mokwena’s departure, several members of the technical staff parted ways with the club. There were also significant changes to the playing personnel. It may have contributed to the mixed fortunes suffered on their pre-season tour of Austria.
Surprisingly, Manqoba Mngqithi became the new head coach. It was thought the club would scour the international market for a coach who has experience working with leading clubs.
Coach Steve Komphela was recalled, and former AmaZulu FC coach Romain Folz was added to the team’s brains trust in Masandawana’s quest for more success.
Over the weekend, Sundowns signed Tinashe-Shingai Mukandatsama, the senior tactical analyst at Sekhukhune United. He has worked with several junior national teams in the past.
One key player who will not feature in the match is Bafana Bafana captain Ronwen Williams, who was not on the pre-season tour of Austria. The goalkeeper has undergone surgery on his shoulder and is still recovering.
His absence will open the door for Denis Onyango, Reyaad Pieterse and Jody February to stake a claim for the shot-stopper’s spot.
Mngqithi has given an idea of how he would like to see Sundowns play this season.
“If you watched the teams I have coached, you would have noted that I always like and enjoy faster football,” said Mngqithi.
‘I believe in that type of game. The only time I would ask players to be patient, which does not mean the speed of the ball should be slow but you are less committed, when playing against a low block.
“At times like this, you do not want to lose possession and then be caught on the counter. But I believe, more especially, if you are going to create two or three chances in a match, you might not win. If you create 10, you might score one.
“In my opinion of how I see football, in as much as you play ball possession football, you must also play attacking football.
“There’s a clear difference in possession football and attacking football. I am a coach who prefers to attack the lines rather than enjoy longer spells of possession.”
Mngqithi will not be the only coach in the spotlight next weekend. Sekhukhune United’s new head coach Peter Hyballa will make his local debut when his club hosts Cape Town City.
The German-born Hyballa was, until recently, the head coach of Eerste Divisie club NAC Breda in the Netherlands. He also worked at clubs in Germany, Namibia, Austria, Poland, Denmark and Slovakia.
Mngqithi had a word of advice for Cape Town City coach Eric Tinkler.
“Maybe just to warn Eric (Tinkler), we’ve played against Sekhukhune, and against the same coach in the Netherlands last year,” said Mngqithi. Sundowns played NAC Breda in a friendly on a pre-season tour last year.
“His teams play good football. I am impressed that he is joining us here (in South Africa) because I think it will add a bit of spice to our league. We want competitive and very tactical games, which I think he will also add to his game.”
Hyballa said he had one regret ahead of the City game. He was sorry to lose star winger Elias Mokwana, who made a blockbuster move to four-time CAF Champions League winners ES Tunis on Saturday.