Manqoba Mngqithi on why Bongani Zungu CAN’T play now

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Manqoba Mngqithi says Bongani Zungu isn’t ready to start playing since he wasn’t part of their pre-season camp.

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The Brazilians unveiled ‘Ben 10’ last week after long negotiations that began when he left his former club Amiens SC.

Mngqithi hopes that in a month’s time Zungu will be ready to make his second ‘debut’ for Masandawana after he joined the club for his second stint.

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MNGQITHI ON BONGANI ZUNGU’S SECOND DEBUT FOR DOWNS

“Zungu is still behind [in fitness] as he was not part of the team during the pre-season training,” said as quoted by Daily Sun.

“We should also remember that Zungu has not been playing for a while. He is working hard and we hope it won’t take more than two months before he can starting playing games.

“What we like about him is that he is a very disciplined boy who works hard and showed interest of joining us. We are looking forward to see the progress he will make in four weeks. But we are optimistic that he will help us this season.

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In other news, Mngqithi believes they were unfortunate not to get maximum points against Sekhukhune United on Saturday.

Masandawana, who were the visitors on the day, came into the match full of confidence having hammered Kaizer Chiefs 4-0 in their last DStv Premiership game the previous weekend.

Mngqithi was disappointed that his troops wasted several chances, particularly in the first half.

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“Ja the way we conceded was very disappointing, considering how many opportunities we fluffed in the first half because of anxiety and rushing in the final third,” Mngqithi told SuperSport.

“When there were so many holes and gaps inside the box. We made a lot of a meal with the chances that we got but I think we played very well under the circumstances.

“But very unfortunate not to get the results in a game like this.”

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Mamelodi Sundowns next in action against Stellenbosch FC

The 51-year-old coach added that the Limpopo-based club found the leveler through the pressure they applied.

“I think in the second-half they came with a very good mentality to press from the top and unfortunately from our restart we made a meal out of it and capitalised,” he added

“But otherwise they did not create a lot of chances because they were now sitting in but we did not break them down as much as one would have wanted.”

Mamelodi Sundowns next host Stellenbosch FC at Loftus Versfeld on Wednesday, 24 August as they look to get back to winning ways.

Kick-off will be at 17:00.

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