by Benjamin Nyirenda
Mamelodi Sundowns coach Manqoba Mngqithi has rubbished reports around the sidelining of Tebogo Mokoena and Khuliso Mudau. The duo has missed the last four consecutive matches Sundowns have played, and this has raised some suspicions on the relationship between the coach and the said players.
According to Mngqithi, the two players still form part of the team. Speaking on Thursday in Midrand, the Sundowns mentor addressed the rumours, highlighting that Sundowns had a lot of big name players.
Answering a question from journalists during a joint press conference with Kaizer Chiefs ahead of their Betway Premiership encounter on Saturday, Mngqithi said that Sundowns was full of big name players and that competition was high in the team.
He said that the players were in line for team selection just like any other player in the team.
“I think Sundowns has a lot of big players. All the big players are playing, and I am happy with what they have offered so far. They (Mudau & Mokoena) are always part of the selection process. There is no match where they were not part of the selection process.
“We just have to make these decisions at times. They are fit and anything can happen going into the Chiefs game,” Mngqithi said.
Meanwhile, the Chiefs/Sundowns fixture is one of the most anticipated games following the Soweto Derby, and it being set so early in the season may have some fazed, Mngqithi however has welcomed the fixture, saying that this has been happening for the past five seasons.
“To be honest with you maybe for the past five season now I think we are playing this match as second or third match but it’s always in the first five matches. And I think that has been a little bit obvious. I think it’s the second or third match in the last five season now. But it’s nice to play such matches with a team that is motivated and believes it can get something out of it as well. It’s good for the supporters as well as they enjoy the game,” Mngqithi observed.
Chiefs host their Chloorkop-based counterpart on Saturday at the FNB Stadium, kickoff is 15h00.