by Benjamin Nyirenda
DStv Premiership defending Champions Mamelodi Sundowns on Saturday dropped two points when they played to a one all draw with Sekhukhune United at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane and co-coach Manqoba Mngqithi believes it’s a game they could have won as early as the first half.
He said while it was a game that they statistically dominated for most of the time, they failed to take most of their chances they created.
“I think it’s a game that we should have won first half. But we did not take our chances and second half fortunately for them they got a good break from our restart and equalised but honestly speaking it’s a game that statistically we dominated fully. More than 14 shots on target but disappointing to only get four shots on goals. Very good pressing moments to kill their counter attacks, I think. The team played generally very well but when you don’t take your chances when the momentum is still favouring you sometimes it comes to haunt you,” he said.
Mngqithi added that though they dropped two points they were not worried about the issue of catching up with other teams.
” To be honest it’s not about catching up. We are following our process. Drawing a match like this one will obviously mean we have dropped two points because we believe we should have won the match and you created enough opportunities to win the match but still the first five matches of the season. We are still building the position of the players to make sure that they are ready for the rest of the season.
“So the first five matches of the season will never really tell you much. All you must appreciate is when the data tells you that you numbers are very good in terms of distancing in terms of your high intensity runs. In terms of sprints intervals and all that. And once you know that the body gives you what you want then you know you can build from there going forward,” Mnqgqithi added.