Mngqithi Urges Matthews To Take His Chances, Raves About Youngster

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Manqoba Mngqithi has challenged winger Tashreeq Matthews to stake his claim in the team whenever he is called into action.
Matthews, who turns 24 in September, joined the Brazilians in January 2024 from Swedish top-flight outfit Sirius, alongside Thembinkosi Lorch, Zuko Mdunyelwa, and Matias Esquivel, who has since been loaned to CA Talleres in his native Argentina.
The former Borussia Dortmund youth player enjoyed a bright start upon his return to home soil, scoring four goals and providing one assist in 17 matches across all competitions under the tutelage of Rulani Mokwena.
However, with a new-look technical team at the helm at Chloorkop, everyone is afforded a fresh start, and the 23-year-old Cape Town-born player has been urged, by Mngqithi, to make the most of the minutes he’s getting at the star-studded Sundowns side.
“Tashreeq, I think it’s the second match where he does not start very well,” the Downs mentor noted.
“But what he has always done which has always caused a lot of problems for us throughout pre-season is that he would not start very well, but you know he’s someone that has got a chance and is somebody that always has a goal in him.
“Unfortunately, when he does not score or create [chances], it becomes very difficult for him because at Sundowns sometimes you need to grab that little opportunity that you get because it does not come too often,” Mngqithi stated.
The 53-year-old coach went on to laud Matthews for his work rate off the ball, despite the player having a slow start on the other end of the pitch so far this season.
“But to be honest, I’m very happy with his defensive play, his counter-press, his readiness to assist the team whenever we are suffering, I think he is always there,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mngqithi has raved about the top young prospect in the Sundowns ranks, Kutlwano Letlhaku, who came on as a second-half substitute against Stellenbosch for his first appearance of the season.
The school of excellence graduate joined the Brazilians DDC side in July 2023 and made his first-team debut in March this year, in a 2-0 win over Maritzburg United [now Durban City] in a Nedbank Cup round of 32 encounters.
The highly-rated attacking midfielder has continued to impress, catching the eye of Mngqithi who has confirmed the youngster should be expected to feature more this season. “I can guarantee you that he’s going to be one of our big revelations for this season,” he said.
“He has done exceptionally well from pre-season and has scored some terrific goals.
“He is very instrumental in our attacking play, strong and very incisive on 1v1, but he’s got an eye for goal, and he’s also a very good passer of the ball.
“I think the boy is a very big talent. If there’s someone, I think has got a realistic chance of going overseas, it’s that boy [Letlhaku], I rate him very highly.”
He continued: “Technically very smooth, very broad shoulders, he’s never scared of anything, he’s ready to take on any challenge. I see a very bright future ahead of him but he must keep his feet on the ground and stay humble.
“We must also help him with that because I believe if we can do that, there’s a very big chance that he will be a big success at Sundowns,” emphasized Mngqithi.
Article by Trevor Magoro