Mamelodi Sundowns coach Manqoba Mngqithi has addressed the absence of his assistant coach Romain Folz in the past two matches.
Folz was a notable absentee on the bench when Sundowns faced AS Maniema Union in the first match of the CAF Champions League group stages. In that game, the Tshwane giants played to a frustrating goalless draw against Maniema last Tuesday.
The 34-year-old coach, Folz, was also not on the bench when Masandawana defeated Sekhukhune United 3-0 in the Betway Premiership at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Saturday night.
Downs found the back of the net through Arthur Sales, Iqraam Rayners, and an own-goal by Tresor Yamba Yamba. The win over Babina Noko took the Brazilians to the summit of the log standings with 21 points. They are level on points with second-placed Orlando Pirates, who will face Stellenbosch FC on Sunday afternoon.
In the absence of Folz, Wendell Robinson, who is a goalkeeper coach, was listed as the assistant coach on the team sheet against Sekhukhune.
The former Marumo Gallants head coach, Folz joined Sundowns during the off-season to serve as an assistant to Mngqithi. Folz was part of the coaching changes that took place at Sundowns after Rulani Mokwena parted ways with the club.
WHAT DID MANQOBA MNGQITHI SAY ABOUT ROMAIN FOLZ?
Mngqithi has spoken out on the absence of Folz, revealing that he’s away to complete a coaching course.
“He [Wendell Robinson] has always been an assistant coach, but he’s also a goalkeeper coach. Remember that this time around, we didn’t have Romain on the bench because he’s doing his coaching course,” Mngqithi said.
“So in terms of the number of the people you can have on the bench, we had a gap to add another one because normally, Kennedy [Mweene] is not on the bench. So because Romain is not there, it was just a natural movement [to list Robinson as assistant coach].
“But for him being an assistant coach, he has always played that role even from coach Pitso Mosimane’s time, we’re always together and discussing things. He’s a qualified coach, not that we’re trying to push him; he’s got the same qualifications as all of us.”
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