Mamelodi Sundowns coach, Manqoba Mngqithi, has praised Bafana Bafana coach, Hugo Broos, after the team’s impressive Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.
Mngqithi says Broos has proven a lot of people wrong after he was criticized early in his tenure.
Meanwhile, Mngqithi has urged the Premier Soccer League (PSL) to avoid scheduling Knockout Cup finals immediately after the FIFA International break.
Downs, who have the most players in Bafana Bafana squad and players representing other nations, will play Magesi FC in the Carling Knockout final, just three days after a demanding international window.
Mamelodi Sundowns fans were hoping their players would be rested for Bafana Bafana’s final Afcon qualifier against South Sudan on Tuesday, especially with an eye on Saturday’s Carling Knockout final against Magesi FC in Bloemfontein. But that was not the case.
Eight Downs players represented South Africa against South Sudan in a dead rubber. And six of them didn’t train with the team on Wednesday as it prepared for the Carling Knockout final.
While Mngqithi didn’t blame the PSL scheduling a cup final immediately after the international window, he says it should not be repeated in future.
“In future, it would be important just to try and avoid a cup final or cup matches immediately after the FIFA break because it causes unnecessary commotion, but the PSL in this case didn’t know Sundowns would be in the final. We cannot blame them, but I am just saying in future … anyone who would be in the final and having lots of players in the national team,” says Mngqithi.
Mngqithi also didn’t blame Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos for fielding the Downs players against South Sudan. Instead, he says he would also have selected his best players for the match and praised the Belgian mentor for turning the fortunes of Bafana around.
“We’ve reached a stage where we can be confident and brag about our national team because they are really giving the nation what it would have required. They are scoring goals, they are winning matches convincingly. Personally, I am very excited with what coach Broos is doing. He has proven many people wrong,” says Mngqithi.
Downs will travel to Bloemfontein on Thursday for Saturday’s final against the newcomers.
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