Mamelodi Sundowns coach Manqoba Mngqithi has expressed concern after his side’s shock defeat to Polokwane City FC, admitting that there are areas where the team needs to improve.
The Tshwane giants suffered a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Rise and Shine in a league encounter on Sunday in Polokwane.
It was a first defeat in the Betway Premiership this season for the defending champions in five matches.
As a result of the loss, Masandawana are now second on the log behind rivals Orlando Pirates, who have won all their opening five games of the 2024/25 campaign.
Mngqithi acknowledged that his team struggled to create chances during their 1-0 defeat to Polokwane City FC.
“This is a team that was playing against [Golden] Arrows just the other day and scored five goals. If today they struggle even to have a shot on target, then we should be worried,” he told the media.
“The truth is, first-half, we did not create much, and in the second-half we also did not create much. They are a very good defending team, to be honest. We must never take that away from them. They are a team that is very stingy when giving away goals, but we really tried to move them.
MANQOBA MNGQITHI ADMITS THEY COULD HAVE DONE BETTER AGAINST POLOKWANE CITY FC
“But even in moments where we thought we should get something, [Sphelele] Mkhulise’s shot at the end, maybe it should have been in. Iqraam [Rayners] where he could not even take a shot because I don’t know what happened. Whether the wind moved the ball or what, I still have to check it.
MAMELODI SUNDOWNS COACH NOT IMPRESSED FOLLOWING THEIR FIRST DEFEAT OF THE BETWAY PREMIERSHIP
“But I was not impressed. I was not impressed with the speed of play, I was not impressed with our chances creation and I was not impressed with the decision-making in the final third,” he said.
“It’s areas that we must work very hard on to try and get ourselves back because we thought we had improved tremendously in that regard.”
Sundowns next match will be at home to Cape Town City FC on Wednesday. The Citizens played to a 0-0 draw against Betway Premiership newcomers Magesi oFc n Sunday.
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