There is no need to panic. That is essentially the message coming from Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Manqoba Mngqithi, calling for calm after an unexpected 1-0 MTN8 semi-final loss against Stellenbosch.
Masandawana were stunned 1-0 by Stellies in the first-leg of the last four tie on Wednesday night, with Fawaaz Basadien helping the Cape Winelands side get a crucial away goal.
However, Mngqithi – who is in the process of instilling a new philosophy at the club, is confident that his players will eventually warm up to the altered style and expects Sundowns to bounce back in the reverse fixture on Sunday.
“We created the opportunities that could have easily given us the game but unfortunately we committed very silly errors. We are looking at these things later on and we are asking what could have happened.
“That’s why they say hindsight is the best sight. But we created good chances to do something. The fact that Sage Stephens became Man of the Match proves that we did our part. I still don’t think we created too many chances, which is something I would have loved to see.
“Sometimes I feel like some of the best moments are few and far in between but I do see what we are trying to achieve. I do see the team getting stronger as we progress and I do see the team achieving more than we did last season.
“But I just felt that we did not want to grab the control of the game and we did not capitalize on the challenges that they had in the wide channels. We always looked very potent…I am very optimistic we are on the right track,” Mngqithi added.
𝗥𝟲𝟯𝗠 𝗠𝗔𝗡 𝗠𝗜𝗦𝗦𝗘𝗦
— Sahil Ebrahim (@sahil_e_) August 28, 2024
Arthur Sales misses at point blank range! The Mamelodi Sundowns new recruit setup on a plate by Lucas Riberio. Great work by Sage Stephens. 😲
Coach Manqoba Mngqithi can't believe it! 🫨
83 mins gone
Mamelodi Sundowns 0-1 Stellenbosch FC#MTN8 pic.twitter.com/S6D7WRg0LO
The Masandawana mentor has about three days to work on a strategy to dismantle Steve Barker’s side, who enter the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Sunday with a one-goal advantage.
Mngqithi benched captain Themba Zwane, introduced him later in the match and gave new striker Arthur Sales his debut. An “obvious” new strategy might require a change in personnel and approach, but Mngqithi is not – at least at this point – pondering on shuffling the pack.
“I will be going ahead of myself if I start to think about the line-up for the next match when we still have so many training sessions to see what we can get. The strategy will have to be different.
“It is a game where one goal is not enough, and I believe we will be a completely different team.
“We need results like this if we still have a second chance because when you have been doing well in all the matches, sometimes it creates an impression that you have an entitlement with the results,” said Mngqithi, who did not shy away from admitting Sundowns’ errors against Stellies.
“The truth of the matter is that we made too many elementary mistakes. I think this is the second match where Tashreeq Matthews does not start very well. I gather a lot of lessons from games like this.
“When you are playing against a team like Stellenbosch you are made to see what the league will look like because a lot of teams will always have the low block.”
