Mngqithi on why Allende started against SuperSport United

Mamelodi Sundowns co-coach Manqoba Mngqithi has explained why Marcelo Allende started against SuperSport United last Friday.

It was the third game for the Chilean international in Sundowns jersey after he came off the bench and scored in each of the last two games.

Abubeker Nasir, another new signing for Bafana Ba Style also started the game and scored the consolation goal for Downs as they lost 2-1 to their cross-town rivals.

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MNGQITHI ON WHY ALLENDE STARTED AGAINST SUPERSPORT

“For Marcello, it was important for him to start the match so that he also knows the speed of our game in South Africa because sometimes when you come in a substitute it is easy for people to already put you on a podium,” explained Mngqithi.

“When you start the game,[you feel] the intensity of the match. It’s an integration that he needed. He did not perform badly. He had very good moments in the first half but he was a little bit off the pace at the start of the speed of the game.

“But his performance is good enough to suggest that he will be very important to us. It was always going to be important to give him a start.”

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In other news, Mngqithi has insisted it’s too soon to panic after suffering their second defeat in the DStv Premiership on Friday evening.

After six league games they have played so far, the last season’s treble winners have only collected three wins, drawn one and lost two.

To drop too many points so early in the season, Mngqithi believes it’s a blessing in disguise as it will help them maintain focus.

‘IT’S WARNING SIGN’ SAYS MNGQITHI

“In terms of our first cycle, we are not far off in terms of the number of points but we managed to get ten points in five matches. We still have 12 points to fight for in this cycle,” Mngqithi told the media.

“For me it’s not a train smash but its warning sign and it is very good when this warning signs come early in the season so that you are not complacent, you keep your feet on the ground and stay humble and understand that you are not entitled to get the results.

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“For us we understand that and it is probably good that it is happening so early in the season so that we must be a little bit more focused. Otherwise, I don’t think it’s already a stage for people to start panicking.

“It is too early for that. On average we have done fairly well in terms of the number of points that we have collected compared to other teams and we are in a position that we have done fairly well. We have not done the best that we can do and we believe we can do better.”