After winning the South African top flight seven times on the spin, Manqoba Mnggithi would not lose sleep if Mamelodi Sundowns do not finish as Betway Premiership champions, just as long as they claim the 2024/25 Caf Champions League.
Masandawana have made light weight of their opponents in the Premiership, dominating the league and setting an unprecedented record of seven titles on the spin, accompanied with a number of records in the process.
Last season, the Brazilians collected a total of 73 points, bettering the 71 they set under Pitso Mosimane in the 2015/16 season, and were one game shy from going the entire season unbeaten.
However, this was not the first time Downs only lost one game in a season as they achieved this feat in the 2020/21 campaign.
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At that time, Mngqithi and Rhulani Mokwena were co-head coaches, but the duo have failed to deliver the Champions League, even under Mokwena’s tenure as the sole head coach.
Now with Mngqithi installed as the head coach, he has revealed his strong desire to win the so-called African holy grail.
“When I started coaching, I have always wanted to win from a very early age. I wanted to replicate my name as much as I can in many things that I do in my life,” said Mngqithi.
“That definition of how I view myself has always driven me to want to win every match that I play. I am probably the fortunate one because I have coached in almost all the divisions in South African football and I think I have won something in all these divisions.
“When I got into Sundowns, I wanted to be part of a team that can win a championship. One has been fortunate to be part of a team that has won nine championships. Once I won the championship, it moved to the Champions League, thinking that if we can win one Champions League, and fortunately we won it.”
“If I were to tell you my biggest ambition as a coach, it would be to win the Champions League. I would not mind anything else. I know the championship is the gateway to winning the Champions League.
“Personally, I will give everything I have to make sure I win the Champions League and I am very optimistic that we have got a realistic chance to win the Champions League, we just need to keep our feet on the ground and understand the dynamics of the different profiles of matches because sometimes I think that is where we let it loose.
“The games in the Champions League are completely different. At home, most teams are going to be sitting back, but away from home, that’s where we got a chance to win it. We have been preparing ourselves for the stage where there is no respect,” said the Downs mentor.
#FlashbackFriday to Mosa's unstoppable header against our #TotalEnergiesCAFCL opponents! #Sundowns pic.twitter.com/NGWaM5PgAH
— Mamelodi Sundowns FC (@Masandawana) September 20, 2024
