Mamelodi Sundowns coach Manqoba Mngqithi has implored local football organisers to plan Bafana Bafana games appropriately in the future.
This as the team will face Magesi FC in the Carling Knockout Cup final on Saturday in Bloemfontein, just three days after about 10 Sundowns players were part of Bafana Bafana squad that faced Uganda and South Sudan recently.
“It is just an unfortunate situation, to be honest.
I wouldn’t want to blame their coaches at the national team because if I was a national team coach, I [too] would have used my best players,”
“They are using their best players because you want to build on the momentum, you want to make sure you don’t start opening cracks in the team for people to start seeing some of your shortcomings when some of the players are not there.
It is difficult to ask any coach to not play their best players.”
Mngqithi highlighted that it was suicidal to play a cup final after a FIFA break, rather than a league match.
He said players would only have two days to prepare for the final, but was relieved that all of Sundowns players who were in the Bafana squad, have been given a clean bill of health.
A cup final immediately after the FIFA break is suicidal for me.
Having said that, I’m not levelling the blame on the PSL because they did not know that Sundowns would make it to the Carling Knockout final.
I think dates were set before us qualifying for the final, so it is just unfortunate that it happens to be us.
Based on that, I think in future it would be important to avoid having cup matches or a final immediately after the FIFA break because it causes unnecessary commotion,” explained Mngqithi.
Meanwhile, Mngqithi said he has cautioned the team not to undermine Magesi, who are making their debut in the Betway Premiership.
The team is coached by Clinton Larsen, who beat the Brazilians twice first in 2012 whilst at the helm of Bloemfontein Celtic to clinch the Telkom Knockout, and when they shocked Sundowns 5-0 in a league match in 2015.
“Clinton’s journey is probably as close as possible to my journey in football.
He has coached in all the levels in football.
So, I have a lot of respect for that, and I’m going into this match with a coach that I know is not sitting on his laurels, he’s trying to find the best possible solution on how to deal with what everybody thinks is a favourite.
Larsen has always done well, and I shared these stories with the players because I want them to know that they’re not playing just any other coach,” warned the coach.
The match would be played at the Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein at 18:00.
