Cape Town City coach Eric Tinkler has come to the defense of Mamelodi Sundowns' coach Manqoba Mngqithi following Sundowns' early exit from the MTN8 competition.
Sundowns were eliminated in the semi-finals by Stellenbosch FC, failing to score a goal in the tournament.
Mngqithi, who took over the reins after Rhulani Mokwena’s departure, has faced criticism due to this underwhelming start.
Tinkler, however, believes it’s too soon to judge Mngqithi, suggesting that the coach is still in the process of implementing his own ideas and strategies.
According to Tinkler, the former Golden Arrows mentor is likely still experimenting with finding the right combinations for the team, and it wouldn’t be fair to criticise him at this early stage of the season.
“I still see them (Sundowns) being a very pressing team, coaches come with different ideas, different mentalities,” Tinkler said.
“But obviously there are certain aspects of how they play that you don’t want to change.
“And I don’t think he (Mngqithi) is changed that, maybe personnel and it’s about personnel jellying.
“And getting a better understanding of each other (players), it doesn’t happen overnight everybody just assumes that you signed five to six players tomorrow they going to click.
“It doesn’t work that way it takes time and what is he have there, he has abundance of talent and now is just finding the right combination.
“And Rhulani had that combination from how many years when he was there.
“Manqoba now has taken over he has his own ideas it takes time and I don’t think it’s fair criticism.”
