Mamelodi Sundowns co-coach Manqoba Mngqithi has condemned the time-wasting tactics deployed by various teams in the DStv Premiership when playing against the Tshwane giants.
Mngqithi was left frustrated by the number of stoppages in their game against Chippa United on Wednesday evening at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
The Brazilians were made to break their backs by the Chilli Boys, with Mngqith’s troops clinching a hard-fought victory, thanks to a solitary strike by the Namibian hitman Peter Shalulile, who took his tally for the 2022/23 season to five goals.
Despite walking away with all three points in a gruelling affair in Gqeberha, the former Golden Arrows coach, was unpleased with how the game was often delayed by Chippa players.
DOWNS COACH REVEALS CONCERN
“One concern that I have personally is time wasting; I don’t know if we can see what is happening in the PSL now. time wasting is playing a big role,” Mngqithi told the media.
“If you look at the time, we are playing in these 90 minutes; we are averaging 43 minutes out of 90 minutes where the ball is in play; that for me is a course for concern because our officials seem to not be doing anything about it.
“Had I lost this match when I complain about time, everybody will look at it differently.”
The Chloorkop-based side bounced back to winning ways after losing to Tshwane arch-rivals SuperSport United in the previous match.
Sundowns have had an inconsistent start to the new campaign, which saw them win four games, draw one and lose on two occasions.
Furthermore, the Sundowns mentor has suggested that he foresees many teams deploying a reinforced defence against the defending champions.
“We are going to play more than 80% of matches with a very low block, and this is what has been happening throughout the season because sometimes even the big teams resort to the low block strategy against us,” said Mngqithi.
“We are always preparing our team for that, and we do create opportunities that we want to create because our wish is always to break down the game early.”
Bafana Ba Style will face Golden Arrows in their next encounter on Saturday as they look to collect all three points and consolidate at the summit of the log.
