Mamelodi Sundowns coach Manqoba Mngqithi has identified a trio of Kaizer Chiefs players he believes are key to Nasreddine Nabi’s tactical set-up and pose a significant threat ahead of their upcoming clash.
Chiefs and Sundowns will face off in the Betway Premiership at the FNB Stadium on Saturday afternoon, with kick-off at 3PM.
Both teams are undefeated this season, having each won their opening two games. Mnqgithi has issued a clear warning to his team ahead of their highly anticipated clash, emphasising that this Chiefs side should not be underestimated.
“I think we should go to this match with a lot of respect and humility,” Mngqithi stated during the pre-match press conference, tempering any expectations of an easy victory for his free-scoring Sundowns side.
“It’s still too early for anyone to start thinking we have found our groove. The way Chiefs has started, their transitions and the players they have upfront… you have to have a bit of humility when you go into a match like this one.”
WHICH THREE PLAYERS HAS MNGQITHI IDENTIFIED AS NABI’S DANGER MEN?
He went on to identify three Chiefs players who have particularly caught his eye: Gaston Sirino, Ranga Chivaviro, and the young Mduduzi Shabalala.
“Gaston is very important for them, Chivaviro is also very important for them, and I must also say the young Shabalala has stamped his authority,” added the Sundowns coach.
All three have scored a goal in the opening two matches of the season. Shabalala was on target in the 2-1 win over Marumo Gallants, while Sirino and Chivaviro found the net against AmaZulu in a 3-0 victory for Amakhosi.
“We are playing against a very good team and a team that is also well-supported… I must also commend the work coach Nabi has done with the team. In a very short space of time, the team looks very dangerous.”
With over 44,000 tickets already sold for the much-anticipated clash, the stage is set for a blockbuster showdown.
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