Mamelodi Sundowns Coach Manqoba Mngqithi Explains Wendell Robinson’s Role After Betway Premiership Match Against Sekhukhune United

Mamelodi Sundowns returned to winning ways in the Betway Premiership with a dominant 3-0 victory over Sekhukhune United at Loftus Versfeld Stadium this past Saturday. The win saw the Brazilians climb to the top of the standings, but it was the presence of Wendell Robinson as an assistant coach on the bench that piqued the interest of many fans.

Robinson, who has long been a part of Sundowns’ technical staff, was listed as an assistant coach during the match, despite being known primarily for his role as a goalkeeper coach. Sundowns’ assistant coach Romain Folz was notably absent from the match, as he is currently away attending a coaching course. This absence created the opportunity for Robinson to step into an expanded role.

Speaking at the post-match press conference, Sundowns head coach Manqoba Mngqithi explained Robinson’s presence on the bench. “He has always been an assistant coach, but he is also a goalkeeper coach,” Mngqithi said, addressing a question from KickOff. “He has always played that role. Remember that this time around, we didn’t have Romain on the bench because he is doing his coaching course. So, in terms of the number of people you can have on the bench, now we had a gap to add another one on the bench because normally Kennedy Mweene is not on the bench. So, because Romain is not there, it was a natural movement.”

Mngqithi further clarified that Robinson has been an assistant coach for quite some time, even during the era of former coach Pitso Mosimane. “For him to be an assistant coach, he has always played that role since coach Pitso’s time,” Mngqithi continued. “He has always been amongst the coaches. He is a qualified coach, by the way. It’s not that we are trying to push him.”

Sundowns Continue Strong Performance

The match against Sekhukhune United saw Sundowns reassert their dominance in the league, securing a comfortable 3-0 victory. The win, which was their first after a recent dip in form, lifted the team to the top of the standings as they continue to defend their title.

Despite the absence of key personnel like Folz, the team demonstrated resilience and depth, with goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene stepping in to occupy the goalkeeper coach role on the bench.

Upcoming Match Postponed

Meanwhile, Sundowns’ upcoming Betway Premiership fixture against Chippa United, scheduled for December 10 at Loftus Versfeld Stadium, has been postponed. This decision comes as Sundowns prepare for their CAF Champions League clash against FAR Rabat in Morocco on Saturday. The postponement of the Chippa United match will give Sundowns the necessary time to focus on their continental ambitions.

As the team gears up for the CAF Champions League, Mngqithi and his technical staff will be looking to build on their solid league performance and continue their push for both domestic and continental glory.