Manqoba Mngqithi happy with Mamelodi Sundowns preseason. Image: @Masandawana
Mngqithi happy with Sundowns preparations despite Gent draw
Manqoba Mngqithi feels Mamelodi Sundowns are testing themselves to the fullest following a 2-2 draw against Gent on Friday.
Manqoba Mngqithi happy with Mamelodi Sundowns preseason. Image: @Masandawana
Mamelodi Sundowns senior coach Manqoba Mngqithi said he was happy with the progress of the team during their pre-season training.
The Brazilians played their first match on tour against Belgium giants Gent on Friday with both teams settling for an etertaining 2-2 draw.
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Mngqithi happy with draw against Gent
“Today we were playing against KAA Gent Belgium, our first match in our preparation phase in the second cycle for preparation in Belgium. It was very important for us to come into an environment where we will not be played with any respect. People will come at us and we will have a go at them because that is what we encounter in the Champions League in the latter stages of the competition, teams do not have much respect for us,” Mngqithi said after the game.
Against Gent, Sundowns showed their intent from the start and scored two impressive goals from Rivaldo Coetzee and new signing Lucas Ribeiro Costa.
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The Belgians showed their resilience and fighting spirit and found their way back into the game through Gift Orban who scored a brace.
Mngqithi remained optimistic about the team’s progress, saying a club like Gent provided invaluable insights into areas that needed improvement before the start of the league season.
“I think Gent being the team that plays in that space of confederations Cup or what you will call conference League or Europa League, sometimes it is important to to get a friendly like that and again to make it an ice breaker in a trip like this so that you can really test yourself.
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“I think the boys really did well under the circumstances, it was 2-2, but if you look at the quality of the goals that we scored, both of them were of the highest level. Rivaldo’s cracker and Lucas on his debut in a friendly match scoring such a beautiful goal.”
Mngqithi said the club did analyse Gent before the game.
