Manqoba hopes key players will recover in time for cup final

Downs camp shaken by flu outbreak

Mamelodi Sundowns cocoach Manqoba Mngqithi expects his players to fully recover in time ahead of their Nedbank Cup final against Marumo Gallants at Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace on Saturday at 6pm.

A flu outbreak on the eve of their final DStv Premiership match of the season against Royal AM on Monday, forced Sundowns to ring the changes. They secured a hard-fought 32 victory at Chatsworth.

Players like Denis Onyango, Themba Zwane, Lyle Lakay and Andile Jali missed the match, but Mngqithi remains positive that they will be available as they look to complete the treble by adding the Nedbank Cup to their MTN8 and league titles.

“It is going to be a tough match. We have to prepare very well and hope that all the guys who have the flu can come back strong,” Mngqithi explained to the media after the game.

“But we are very optimistic [that they will come back], all the players that were not on the pitch against Royal AM. I think we had only 17 players during the game. So that says to you that everybody else that was not on the pitch was sick. But I’m 100% positive that they will be available.”

While players who took part in that match did well to see Sundowns end their league camapign with a victory and receive their title in style, Mngqithi still wants all his best players for the final.

He said that they would have to work on their defending after letting in what he described as soft goals this season.

“There are areas we need to improve on. We conceded some silly goals this year; we have to improve on that.

“We’ve done fairly well in our standards, but we believe Sundowns can do better than that.

“And it is very important to keep something on the neck at the end, that’s what motivates them, so when you begin with the end in your mind, everybody understands that you are fighting for one thing and you are clear in your mind that you are not playing for fun.

“You are playing to win trophies and that culture is growing big now and everybody understands how important it is.”

/DARREN STEWART / GALLO IMAGES Mamelodi Sundowns coaching staff of Steve Komphela, Rulani Mokwena, Manqoba Mngqithi and Wendell Robinson pose with the league championship trophy after it was handed over to the club following their 3-2 win over Royal AM in Durban on Monday.