Manqoba Mngqithi wants Mamelodi Sundowns to walk before they run

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Manqoba Mngqithi has downplayed the idea that Wednesday, 26 May’s Tshwane derby is a potential title decider.

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Mamelodi Sundowns fans can feel that they are on the brink of being crowned 2020/21 DStv Premiership champions.

Masandawana are potentially just 90 minutes away from claiming their fourth title in a row. They sit on 57 points, seven clear of Benni McCarthy’s AmaZulu who have 50 points.

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However, co-coach Mngqithi is focused on the derby at hand, playing what is in front of him. He wants his players to walk before they run.

He knows all too well that an intensely physical Tshwane derby awaits his team.

Mngqithi has set his side a target of 12 points in their remaining five matches. This is the task at hand and the focus of the team.

“We don’t want to put unnecessary pressure on this side to win today in order to win the league with three games to spare. There is plenty of time to secure the title.

“According to our process this is the second match of our last cycle of five games. So, our intention is to try to make sure that we achieve our target in the last four matches. And it just happens that SuperSport can decide the championship,” Mngqithi said

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“The intention is to get the number of points that we have targeted And, as it is now, it’s just that we are short of nine points in this cycle. It would be nice if we can get 12. We are not putting a lot of pressure on the players to look at this game as a title decider. We still want them to give the same energy in the last three matches because for us it’s important to win all our matches and try to achieve our targets,” stated Mngqithi

Winning the title will certainly bring consolidation to Mamelodi Sundowns after their CAF Champions League exit to Al Ahly.

They lost 3-1 on aggregate and are now focused on reaching their goal for the season by taking it one match at a time.

“It is also for the legacy of the players to know how they won the league and how much of a fight it was,” he said.

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Mamelodi Sundowns take on SuperSport United at Loftus Versfeld on Wednesday.

Kick-off is at 17:00.