Mngqithi: Why I Won’t Celebrate Win Over Sundowns
Golden Arrows coach Manqoba Mngqithi says he will never celebrate beating Mamelodi Sundowns out of respect for the club that “did so much for him and his family.”
Mngqithi engineered a 1-0 victory for Arrows against Sundowns in the Betway Premiership match at King Zwelithini Stadium on Wednesday, ending Arrows’ three-game losing streak.
The decisive moment came in the first half when Junior Dion rose highest to connect with Ayabulela Maxwele’s corner kick, scoring as the Sundowns defense appeared to be ball watching and failed to mark the Ivorian striker.
To show respect, Mngqithi did not celebrate the goal, a gesture reflecting his more than ten years spent at the Tshwane giants in a variety of roles. This victory marked the first time Arrows had beaten Sundowns in Durban since 2019, when the team was managed by current Sundowns assistant coach Steve Komphela.
Mngqithi’s Humility and Perspective
Humble as ever, Mngqithi offered his perspective on Sundowns’ current struggles, suggesting they did not have a proper pre-season due to their participation in the FIFA Club World Cup in America in June.
“As for beating Sundowns, I will not be gloating about it because it would feel bad if I want to boast about beating my former team, which has done so much for my family,” he stated.
“I will always be grateful to this team. I never have feelings of thinking I’m better or what, because I know this is a very powerful team.”
This match was Sundowns’ first defeat of the season, and they have looked different from the dominant side of previous years under their current coach, Miguel Cardoso. The Portuguese coach, who replaced Mngqithi in December last year, acknowledged that they are currently rebuilding the club, having also lost their best player from last season, Lucas Ribeiro Costa.
Predicting Sundowns’ Return to Form
Despite the loss, Mngqithi believes Sundowns will soon reclaim their dominant position in the league, echoing their achievement of winning the league eight years in a row.
“I hear people saying this season is going to be something different; in my opinion, this team is still very strong,” Mngqithi asserted.
“It is just a matter of time. You must remember they didn’t have a proper pre-season, and we are still capitalising on that in the first 10 matches. You can expect them not to be in sync, and the fact that they were in the Club World Cup took its toll.”
He emphasized the physical and mental recovery period: “The adaptation from the Club World Cup alone should at least take close to a month for players to really adapt very well. I don’t think they are where they are supposed to be.”
Mngqithi also praised the club’s recent recruitment: “When I look at the recruitment they made, I still feel they have done very well. I think Nuno Santos is a very good player. The young boy Bennett [Mokoena] was with us in the DDC; he is a very good football player. The boy they got from Portugal, [Miguel] Reisinho, is also very good.”
He concluded with an enduring belief in the team’s quality: “In my opinion, I just see the team that lost today [on Wednesday], but it does not define this team as not good enough, because, in my opinion, class is permanent. They are moments when, with that class, you can always be punished here and there. But, in my opinion, I think Sundowns will be very strong this season, and I’m honest when I say that.”
