Mngqithi pleased with Sundowns’ CAFCL win

by Graeme Jackson

Monday Feb 15, 2021. 16:00

Mamelodi Sundowns co-coach Manqoba Mngqithi has expressed his satisfaction with the team’s 2-0 win over Al Hilal to kick-off their group stage campaign in the CAF Champions League.

The Brazilians eased to a two-goal victory over the Sudanese visitors at Loftus Stadium this past Saturday, with Mosa Lebusa and Kermit Erasmus finding the back of the net.

“We managed to achieve what we planned organisationally as we did not want them to play in our half, because aerially they are very strong and we could see that every time they got a set-piece,” Mngqithi told Sundowns’ official website.

“I also think that after we scored the goal we took our foot off the pedal and they started coming at us with a lot of throw-ins and corner kicks.

“This is a very strong team and has an awkward way of playing. Overall the game panned out the way we expected.”

Despite the win, the Brazilians should have racked up more goals – prompting the co-coach to call for more efficiency in their finishing.

“We have been complaining about the team not being shrewd enough. If you look at the game against Chippa United, we scored two but we could have scored eight, in the Stellenbosch game also we could have scored more,” explained Mngqithi.

“We have not been clinical, but if you look at our goal ratio it is not bad. We don’t always take our chances and we don’t want to put stress and anxiety on the players. It is a very sensitive area to touch but we are happy.”

Sundowns will be back in domestic action this midweek with a clash against Baroka FC, before their next Champions League assignment away to Algeria’s CR Belouizdad next Tuesday, 23 February.