Mamelodi Sundowns coach Manqoba Mngqithi has stated he prefers it when opponents don't fear his team on the pitch.
In a recent interview, former Masandawana captains Teko Modise and Hlompho Kekana argued the current crop of players doesn't instill the ‘fear factor' in other teams as it used to during their time.
In his response, the 53-year-old explained that is a blessing in disguise on his side because it means his team will not struggle too much to score. He further argued teams should get sacred of a team that has scored 11 goals in three Carling Knockout matches.
‘If you are not scared of Masandawana, there is something wrong'
“I would not want to be feared before the fight – personally, that's how I am because you know, when you are fighting a coward and he's already scared of you, he will give you the biggest left hook you've ever seen because he does not want a comeback,” he said ahead of the Carling Knockout final against Magesi FC.
“But when people don't fear you, I think it's better because it means they would not pull all stops to try and make sure that they stop you.
“But if you are not scared of a team that is capable of scoring 11 goals in three [Carling Knockout] matches, then there's something wrong with you,” the 53-year-old added.
Mngqithi rates Larsen!
The Masandawana boss then went on to reveal his admiration for Magesi coach Clinton Larsen ahead of the game that will be staged at the Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein.
“I always have a lot of respect for coaches that have coached at almost all the levels of football. I always have a lot of respect for such coaches because they are not talking about something they don't know, they have experienced it,” he added.
“A lot of people that have so much to say in football, but they are so limited because they have not really experienced practically to coach in environments that may not have anything to support you, but you're still expected to bring the results.
“Clinton's journey in football is probably as close as possible to mine, I think he has coached in almost all the levels; LFA, development, SAB League, ABC Motsepe, NFD, and all these levels. So when he talks, I always listen because I know it's coming from, not just knowledge but wisdom,” he concluded.
The match between Downs and Dikwena tsa Meetse will be played from 18.00 South African Time.
