Mamelodi Sundowns coaches were not impressed with their players after they missed a number of chances in the first half during the log-leaders’ 2-1 win over a struggling Chippa United in a DStv Premiership Premiership match at Mdantsane’s Sisa Dukashe Stadium in East London on Monday.
Sundowns coaches – Manqoba Mngqithi, Rulani Mokwena and Steve Komphela – read the players the riot act at half time.
However, it was the Chilli Boys who scored four minutes into the second half when Augustine Kwem equalised for the Gqeberha-based side after Themba Zwane had given the Brazilians the lead in the first stanza. Peter Shalulile netted Sundowns’ second goal to make sure that the Brazilians broke Kaizer Chiefs’ 19 games unbeaten record.
The Tshwane giants have collected 46 points after winning 13 times and drawing seven matches.
“First half we could have wrapped up this game. We had one-on-one situations with their goalkeeper. At half time all the coaches were livid because when you miss such chances and you are leading 1-0 the game always turns out differently. Look at what happened, we missed a big chance at the opposite end and immediately there is transition at the opposite end and they scored,” Mngqithi said.
The former Lamontville Golden Arrows mentor added that they knew that the Chilli Boys were going to offer some resistance.
“It’s always going to be a tough one at this stage of the season. The game came out the way we wanted,” Mngqithi said.
Chilli Boys caretaker coach Siyabulela Gwambi, meanwhile, has said that they are going to build on the performance they dished out against the Brazilians.
“We started a bit slow. Our plan was to defend as deep as possible because of the runs made by Sundowns. Immediately after they scored we had to change our approach. This is a performance we can build on,” Gwambi said.
