Manqoba Mngqithi Expected A Tough Game Against Stellies!

Manqoba Mngqithi Expected A Tough Game Against Stellies! The experienced coach says that Sundowns always suffer against The Western Cape outfit.

Mamelodi Sundowns won a thrilling Nedbank Cup tie against Stellies yesterday. Peter Shalulile scored the winner in the dying minutes of extra time.

The score was 3-2 at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Hatfield, Pretoria. It was a hard fought victory for a fatigued Mamelodi Sundowns in the end.

“It’s one of those games we knew was going to be very difficult. We anticipated they would defend with a very low block and when they do that it demands a lot on us,” Mngqithi told SuperSport TV after the game.

“At times I thought we were moving the ball a little bit slow which did not help us to find the openings quicker. We kept demanding that. Which is why we brought on players that could play between the lines and also Thapelo to offer us more width and speed on the side.

“To be honest, we knew it wasn’t going to be an easy game. It was always going to be scrappy. But I think it was good for the viewers at home because a game with five goals is always entertaining but if you look at the goals we conceded they were very cheap goals.

“Ja, we anticipated that Du Preez would be a problem. I saw from the beginning of the match that he immediately occupied a position on one side of our central defence and I said ‘here we go’ because I knew they were looking for that space behind the defence.

“Fortunately we dealt with those situations but we came a very silly goal. But nobody will say we were not aware that Du Preez would cause problems in behind our defence, Skelem as well. Stanley the Nigerian gives a very good account of himself behind the defence.

“But I must say they are a very difficult team to play. Every time we play Stellenbosch we always sweat. But I don’t remember it being a five-goal game. I always remember it being one or two goal game.

“I commend the hard work and the shift the boys put in. But we are still not assured enough in front of goal.”

Manqoba Mngqithi Expected A Tough Game Against Stellies!