Mamelodi Sundowns coach Manqoba Mngqithi is not happy with the date of the Carling Knockout since he has 10 players going to the national teams. 

Sundowns booked themselves to the final of the Carling Knockout on Sunday at Dr Molemela Stadium after their 2-0 victory against Marumo Gallants on Sunday. 

The Brazilians will be playing against Magesi in the final of this competition on 23 November. 

Magesi on the other side won 1-0 against the KZN-based side Richards Bay on Saturday in the Semi-final of the Carling Knockout. 

The last game for Bafana Bafana during the international break will be on Tuesday, the 19th of this month while the final is scheduled for Saturday. 

Mngqithi says this game was not supposed to be on the 23rd, at least on the 30th of November because they will not have enough time to prepare for this game since 10 of his players are in the national teams. 

“Eight for me is an understatement because you also losing Peter Shalulile to Namibia, and you also have Devine Lunga for Zimbabwe,” Mngqithi said. 

“I don’t think the area where the final is put is fair to anyone. Not immediately after a FIFA break, but sometimes you must just accept whatever comes because I think where we are playing Sekhukhune [on the 30th in the league game] we could have played the final and there it could have been better. 

“Maybe you could still have a league match on that weekend, but not immediately after FIFA break when you’ve got so many players that are in the national team. 

“But what can we do? We have to do with what we have and we must accept that bad things and blessings always go together. 

 “So, sometimes you’ll play in the league for putting the final there but what if they put it without the knowledge that we might be in the final? I don’t think there’s much we can do with it.”

This is not the first time a Sundowns coach has complained about the scheduling when it comes to this competition. Last season in the round of 16 against TS Galaxy, it was played a day after the FIFA break in October, and Sundowns players were also representing their countries, leaving former coach Rulani Mokwena complaint about the scheduling, but that did not go down well former Galaxy coach Sead Ramovic who said Mokwena was making excuses.