Mngqithi: Why Sundowns Will Always Win The Title

Golden Arrows coach Manqoba Mngqithi believes Mamelodi Sundowns’ superior squad depth gives them a significant advantage in the race for the league title.

The 53-year-old tactician points out that the modern Premiership is increasingly unpredictable, with smaller teams often taking points from the giants.

He referenced Sundowns’ recent 1-1 draw with Chippa United at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday as a perfect example of this unpredictability.

“The truth is in the PSL, you no longer know who’s going to beat who, and that’s what makes the league interesting,” Mngqithi said.

“You can find a Sundowns not winning against Stellenbosch or Chiefs not winning against Golden Arrows…

“That is where a team like Sundowns has always capitalized, because Sundowns will not win all the games against Pirates, they will not win all the games against Chiefs, but they will always try to make sure that they win 90% of all the games against smaller teams, and that’s where the league is won.”

Mngqithi, a former Sundowns coach himself, also highlighted how the five-substitute rule further benefits teams with deep benches. “The other reason why it makes it so difficult for other teams to compete at the level of Mamelodi Sundowns is this five substitutions,” he explained.

“If you go to Orlando Pirates and tell them to make five substitutions, are you guaranteed the same quality? But with Sundowns, the 10 that is on the bench is good enough to start. The 20 that is in the stand is good enough to start, and this five substitutes per match has helped a team like Sundowns a lot.”

He stressed that quality depth is the deciding factor in a title race.

“That is one thing that is not one of our privileges as smaller teams,” Mngqithi said.

“What is in the starting eleven can give you a good start, a good push, but it’s what is on the bench and in the stands that ultimately wins the league. You can’t depend on 15 players and think you will win the league—it’s impossible.”