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JOHANNESBURG – Mamelodi Sundowns assistant coach Manqoba Mngqithi believes his last 16 opponents of the Telkom Knockout group, Bloemfontein Celtic, are strong in attack but also lack defense skills.
The Sundowns did not have the best start to the season. They were eliminated from MTN8 in the semi-finals and failed to qualify for the quarter-finals of the Caf Champions League.
Their league performances also left a lot to be desired as they drew five times and won just twice. The Telkom Knockout will give them a chance to bring their season to life.
"Celtic started the season very well. They have one of the best coaches in the country (Steve Komphela) and we have already faced them in the championship, so we know their strengths, "said Mngqithi.
"It's a powerful team in attack but they have defensive weaknesses. That may not have been revealed in most games, but in the last two games against Free State Stars in the league and Kaizer Chiefs in the Macufe Cup, there is evidence that they can be broken down. . "
In preparation for their opening match against Celtic at Lucas Moripe Stadium tomorrow (6 pm), six regulars – Motjeka Madisha, Hlompho Kekana, Toni Silva, Phakamani Mahlambi, Sibusiso Vilakazi and Lebohang Maboe – were stationed around the world , while coach Pitso Mosimane was at the table. Morocco for its Pro Caf licensing course and let Mngqithi in charge.
The coach of Brazilian internationals! pic.twitter.com/mlksjcvXeA
– FC Mamelodi Sundowns (@Masandawana)
October 18, 2018
"The fact that we have not had our international matches as long (until yesterday) has a negative effect, as we have prepared a team that will not even start the match," Mngqithi said.
"You can not join the absent players and continue with another team. We still need some of them to come help us. But to be honest, we would apologize if we said we did not do well because our players went on the national team because we knew that time would come. "
International bonds ended in tears for the talisman Vilakazi, who tore Achilles' tendon and is missing for the remainder of the season. Although 47-year-old assistant coach Mngqithi suggested that Vilakazi's overwork could have been the cause of the work overload, he also believes that Bafana Bafana should have done better to oversee his program. training.
"It was always going to be hard to see the signs of an Achilles break-up," insisted Mngqithi. "At this point, we can assume that our last game against AmaZulu, which took place before the international duty, has resulted in casualties.
"But we also do not know what the program was in Bafana – their training time and their regularities – because we have not yet received all the answers we were looking for," he added. ;coach.
L & # 39; star
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