Mamelodi Sundowns co-coach Manqoba Mngqithi has opened up on Sekhukhune hiring Owen da Gama as co-head coach to MacDonald Makhubedu ahead of their DStv Premiership clash.
Sundowns face Sekhkhune at Ellis Park Stadium on Tuesday evening having already secured the league title with four games to spare.
But their opponents who’ve won one game in nine league fixtures in 2022 made a technical team change by roping in Owen da Gama – after initially looking on course for a top-eight finish.
Mngqithi feels they won’t show much change in their tactical style with da Gama coming in so close to the end of the campaign.
“As much as they’re a team we did well against in the first half [of the season] we understand very well we’re playing against a good team we can’t understand why they had a slump they had in the second round because they play good football,” he told the club’s media department.
“I don’t expect much [changes], they’ve always been a good team but obviously when you bring a new coach at this stage of the season, there’s psychological upliftment in terms of how players want to perform to impress the new coach that has joined the team.
“But having looked at the team against [Golden] Arrows, I don’t think there’s a lot they can change at this stage of the season, maybe there’ll be a change in line-up and opinions but not much in the style of play.”
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On the process of getting the team ready and motivated after wrapping up the title, he admits it will be down to the players wanting to fulfil the targets they set before the season started.
“It’s always a bit difficult to be sure the message gets across [to remain grounded] but as a club, we’ve always set our targets and our players know very well that we’ve got the benchmarks we’re trying to achieve,” Mnqithi added.
“Last season we had 67 points and one of the biggest margins were 71 points which we can no longer reach but we can still go beyond the 67. They must respect this process we set together, it’s not just coaches making decisions but everyone has ownership.”
Sundowns face the 2020/21 GladAfrica Championship winners in Johannesburg on Tuesday afternoon at 17h30.
