Mamelodi Sundowns coach Manqoba Mngqithi reckons he believes why Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos did not rest Sundowns players in the last AFCON qualifiers tie against South Sudan.
Bafana faced South Sudan three days before the Carling Knockout Cup final between Sundowns and Magesi FC. Before the AFCON qualifier match, Broos made it clear that he wanted South Africa to finish top of Group K which was proven when he named six Sundowns players in his starting 11.
Mngqithi admitted that he had a better understanding after the meeting with Broos, saying he would’ve done the same if he was in the Belgian coach’s shoes.
“The meeting was very good; we understand each other quite better now because we are both very useful for the national team,” Mngqithi told the media.
“And I even understood when he used most of our players against South Sudan. I just put myself in his shoes; I think I would’ve done the same, and I would not expect any team to tell me that you should not play these players because we already qualified.
“One thing you wouldn’t want in the national team is to lose matches and not play to the level that you want in your final match of the group, which should take you to the competition with a positive mind and positive energy.
“In honesty, I never blamed Hugo for using our players, even though we were playing a final, because I thought the mistake was not with Broos.
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“I will reiterate, but I think not only for Sundowns but for anyone else, it is just suicidal to have a final in a week where we had a FIFA break because it could have been more catastrophic, if it was not.
“Because we were playing at home, imagine if we were coming from Mauritania, or Comoros, Seychelles how long it would’ve taken for that team to come back and you end up with situations there are many instances where flights are cancelled the team does not come back on time, and now you must postpone the final.
“It’s not about Hugo; I changed the seats, I would’ve played my best players in that match to make sure that I cemented my position.”
