Mamelodi Sundowns coach Manqoba Mngqithi has warned Kaizer Chiefs against their overreliance on youngsters whom he feels can crack under the weight of expectations.
Chiefs coach Nasreddine Nabi has heavily used youngsters Mduduzi Shabalala, Wandile Duba, Samkelo Zwane and Mfundo Vilakazi since the start of his reign and the players have delivered some impressive performances.
The four were again involved in the Carling Knockout quarter-final between Sundowns and Chiefs on Saturday but could not do much as the Brazilians secured a 4-0 in what was a one-sided performance.
Mngqithi feels while Chiefs are doing well to hand opportunities to young players, it is a risky affair given how demanding it is at the club, as he thinks they have limitations that could prove costly in the end.
Mngqithi thinks load is heavy on Chiefs youngsters
“I don't want to sound bad but I think the youngsters that Kaizer Chiefs has brought into their first team are very good young boys, very good young boys. That Shabalala [Mdu] is a big factor in the game and he also got some very good moments today [Saturday],” said Mngqithi.
“Duba [Wandile] played exceptionally well. I believe this is the feeling I have when I look at these boys. Vilakazi [Mfundo] when he's given a chance, they are all very good football players but the biggest mistake that you can make with players like those is to put the load of a team as big as Kaizer Chiefs on their shoulders.”
Mngqithi understands that Chiefs are still not at a position to beef up the squad with experienced stars but has some sympathy for Nabi and the young players whom he fears may crumble when the going gets tough.
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“But honestly speaking, I think those are exceptionally gifted players. I would love to have them in my team as well, I don't want to lie to you. So, I wouldn't want now to look like because maybe the people we target, we don't target youngsters, we target more senior players because we know some of the shortcomings they would have,” added the Sundowns coach.
“But these youngsters I don't want to lie to you, they are all very impressive and I know the coach is probably forced to play them because they are the best players that they have at the moment.
“It's just that my fear is if the load and the pressure is on their shoulders, it might probably break some of them down. I'm still very impressed with how the coach and the team has really played these boys because I think they are very influential in almost all the good results that Chiefs got, a youngster was involved.”
