Mamelodi Sundowns coach Manqoba Mngqithi admits he now understands the decision by his Bafana Bafana counterpart Hugo Broos to field a strong squad against South Sudan.
Broos refused the temptation of selecting a weakened squad for their final 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier even though they had already secured their ticket with six Sundowns players in the starting XI as they went on to win 3-0 to finish top of their group.
There had been calls for Broos to rest the Sundowns players given they had the Carling Knockout final against Magesi FC four days later but the veteran tactician stuck to his guns, a decision that Mngqithi says he now fully understands after his meeting with the national team coach.
“The meeting was very good; we understand each other quite better now because we are both very useful for the national team,” Mngqithi told the media.
Sundowns coach understands Broos better
“And I even understood when he used most of our players against South Sudan. I just put myself in his shoes; I think I would’ve done the same, and I would not expect any team to tell me that you should not play these players because we already qualified.
“One thing you wouldn’t want in the national team is to lose matches and not play to the level that you want in your final match of the group, which should take you to the competition with a positive mind and positive energy.”
Mngqithi had clashed with Broos during the October international window especially over the decision to start veteran midfielder Themba Zwane in both matches against Congo before he suffered a long-term injury.
Broos also questioned why Teboho Mokoena and Khuliso Mudau had not been playing but the Sundowns coach fired back, telling him to ‘manage his house.’ However, the tension appears to have cooled now.
“In honesty, I never blamed Hugo for using our players, even though we were playing a final, because I thought the mistake was not with Broos,” added Mngqithi.
Mngqithi questions cup final timing
“I will reiterate, but I think not only for Sundowns but for anyone else, it is just suicidal to have a final in a week where we had a FIFA break because it could have been more catastrophic, if it was not.
“Because we were playing at home, imagine if we were coming from Mauritania, or Comoros, Seychelles how long it would’ve taken for that team to come back and you end up with situations there are many instances where flights are cancelled the team does not come back on time, and now you must postpone the final.
“It’s not about Hugo; If I changed the seats, I would’ve played my best players in that match to make sure that I cemented my position.”
Sundowns players form the bulk of the Bafana Bafana team and Mngqithi and Broos will need to keep talking going forward for the benefit of both club and country.
