Manqoba Mngqithi Praises Striker Gift Motupa after MOTM Performance!

Manqoba Mngqithi Praises Striker Gift Motupa after MOTM Performance! Mamelodi Sundowns defeated Maritzburg United 2-0 in the DSTV Premiership yesterday afternoon.

A second successive penalty from Ricardo Nasciemento in the first half and a second half strike from Gift Motupa handed the Brazilians all three points. They have opened up a 4-point gap to second placed AmaZulu.

Gift Motupa received the Man of the Match award for winning the penalty and scoring himself after being set up by Mothobi Mvala.

“Not the best but business-like.” The coach told SuperSport TV.

“We wanted to win the match. We had to give ourselves to the team and everybody ran because we knew we were playing against a very complicated team,” he says.

“Maritzburg is not an easy team for anyone, and I always tell people Ernst (Middendorp) is one of the top coaches. He may have been unlucky, but his strategies at times can put you off.

“We knew it was not going to be an easy one, and we had to take the few chances that we got and we were fortunate on the day to get a penalty.

“Gift’s work and the group to try and give us a high-press and from there we get something it’s always good for the team and also the second goal I think he took it very well. And we’ve always known he is one of the best finishers in the country.

“I even spoke to him before the match (and told him) today is your day to score and when he scored he immediately pointed at me because he knew that I had told him that today is your day and I was very happy for that.

“But more than anything else I want to give credit to my technical team, Coach Rulani, Steve, Coach Wendell for the clean sheet. The analysts, I think they are always spot on.

“The medical department for getting everybody into the team, the support staff, there’s very good things happening behind the scenes and the management of the team has been very supportive.

“In all our troubles and our journeys, they have been there and once again I want to thank the president and the board of the club because the resources we have sometimes, they make it easier for us to compete on all fronts under circumstances that are very difficult because when you count the number of matches that these players are expected to play. It’s very difficult and I really want to thank them for that,” Mngqithi stressed.

Manqoba Mngqithi Praises Striker Gift Motupa after MOTM Performance!