Mngqithi reveals Sundowns player that should never be left out of starting XI

Published on by Nkosiyabuya Sithole

Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Manqoba Mngqithi has revealed a player that he won’t leave out of the starting line up “no matter what”.

Having been at Sundowns since 2014 when he was appointed as an assistant coach under Pitso Mosimane, Mngqithi gets to lead the club as sole head coach.

He has made some changes to the team's playing style and is gradually showing which players he believes in.

The Tshwane giants won their first match under Mngqithi on Sunday, beating Polokwane City 1-0 in the MTN8 quarterfinal.

After the match, he spoke about Rivaldo Coetzee who is capable of playing both as a center-back and in midfield. Mngqithi emphasized that the 27-year-old makes significant contributions to the team, making it impossible to sideline him.

WHO IS SUNDOWNS PLAYER THAT MNGQITHI FEELS SHOULD ALWAYS BE INCLUDED IN THE FIRST LINE UP?

“If you remember very well, I was the one that advised coach Pitso that we should use him in the midfield,” said Mngqithi.

“To me he’s that player that should not be outside the pitch no matter what. He’s got so much that he offers.

“As a centre-back he’s very good but obviously there are games where you might be looking for something different and he might give you something in the midfield.

“So, I’m trying my best to make every player at least to have two positions so that we don’t have the pressure of moving people around.

“Like today Neo [Maema] ended up playing as a full-back but it’s something we have practiced because we want them to know.

“Sometimes, when we want more offensive play, we could have easily [changed], play Mosa [Lebusa] at left-back and bring Grant [Kekana] very early.

“But we still had to chase the game, we still had to get something out of the game. That’s why we used Neo in that space.

“But the truth of the matter is almost every player we have. We’re trying our best to him the second position. Probably it’s only goalkeepers that are safe.”

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Nkosiyabuya Sithole

Nkosiyabuya Sithole, a young and rising sports journalist based in Durban, South Africa, harbors a deep passion for football. Nevertheless, he aspires to become a well-rounded journalist, adept in various areas of the field.

Nkosi's career began in 2020, working as a home-based writer during the COVID-19 pandemic. He has since written for various websites, including Briefly News, FiND-iT News, and The South African. Attending live sporting events is a particular pleasure for him, as they provide opportunities for interaction with sports personalities.

Outside of the office, he's a God-fearing and affable young man.