Mamelodi Sundowns coach Manqoba Mngqithi is an optimistic man, so the fact that they are trailing in the MTN8 semi-final doesn’t deter him.
The Brazilians lost 1-0 to Stellenbosch FC in the MTN8 semi-final first leg at Lucas Moripe Stadium on Wednesday night.
Fawaaz Basadien converted a penalty for the visitors after Grant Kekana brought down Devin Titus in the box.
That result meant the Cape Winelands-based side will take an away goal into the second leg at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Sunday afternoon (3pm start).
The loss, meanwhile, put a spanner in the works for the Brazilians as it cast more doubts over the new era led by Mngqithi, after the sacking of Rulani Mokwena.
Some supporters and experts are not convinced by the team’s current style of play – which is structured around quick football – and Mngqithi knows that.
Heading into the clash against Stellies, he said they needed to be at their best to win the faith of their fans. But it wasn’t to be.
The former Golden Arrows mentor’s belief in his star-studded team is unwavering, though. He is confident that they’ll win the second leg and reach the final.
“I don’t want to be ahead of myself. The most important thing is to prepare for another game against Stellenbosch,” Mnqgithi explained.
“We need to overcome the 1-0 lead that they have, and I strongly believe that the team that we have has the capacity to do that.”
And while criticism of Sundowns’ new game model has continued, Mngqithi said that they’ll get better with time.
“I would say some of the best moments are few and far between, but I do see what we are trying to achieve, the team getting stronger as we progress and achieving more than last season,” he said.
“But I just felt that we didn’t want to grab the control of the game or capitalise on the challenges they had on the wide channels.
“I think Terrence (Mashego) was open from the beginning of the first half, and (Khuliso) Mudau was free for the better part of the first half as well. However, we were not rotating the ball enough to get into those areas. But when we got there, we always looked very potent.
“I am very optimistic ... we’ll come right.”
Thank you for your support Masandawana! Let's give it our all and turn it around in the second leg! 🙌#Sundowns #MTN8 #RabatsenaGape pic.twitter.com/hy9tDggWpT
The Brazilians will head to Durban on the back foot, but Mngqithi is trying to see the silver lining, especially so early in the season.
“Sometimes we need results like this in football if you still have a second chance,” the 53-year-old coach said.
“When you do well in friendlies, and everything you have played in, it creates an impression that you have an entitlement to the results.
“Immediately after we conceded the goal, we started to see a completely different team. You could see that we wanted to get the goal, and we know what we are trying to do.”
Should Sundowns be able to come flying out of the blocks and overturn the one-goal deficit in Durban, they’ll likely play in a repeat of last season’s final.
Defending champions Orlando Pirates, who beat Sundowns on penalties in last year’s decider, drew 1-1 with Cape Town City in their semi-final first leg in the Mother City.
With Pirates holding the away-goal advantage, a goalless draw at Orlando Stadium tomorrow (3pm start) could see them reach their third successive final in the Wafa Wafa cup.
Mngqithi, though, is not counting his chickens before they hatch, knowing that he first has to get past Stellies.
“I don’t want to be ahead of myself,” Mngqithi said. “I think the most important thing is to prepare for this match and try to win the game. When we do that, we’ll try to give ourselves a chance to get to another final.
“I do not think the finals we lost to Pirates, it’s because they were a better team, I think we committed silly errors even there.
“I wouldn’t say I am not looking forward to what would happen in another final which would include Pirates and Sundowns.”