Manqoba Mngqithi admits his job is 'under scrutiny' but presses no panic button - 'Mamelodi Sundowns are going in the right direction'

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Manqoba Mngqithi has found himself in the spotlight once again following his team's surprising loss to Magesi FC in the Carling Knockout final.

The unfortunate loss to Dikwena Tsa Meetse meant that the South African champions have so far missed out on two trophies having failed to win the MTN8 earlier in the season.

Nevertheless, Mngqithi is maintaining a positive outlook and refraining from feeling anxious, as the club still possesses opportunities to compete for trophies, including the PSL title and the Nedbank Cup.

"If you choose to become a coach, you must expect that in this space our jobs are always under scrutiny every week because we have to deliver," said Mngqithi after the match, as quoted by TimesLive. 

"It's unlike a CEO of a company who has come at the end of the financial year (and delivers a report). With us football coaches, it is always going to be where are we going, are we going in the right or wrong direction? And I am still optimistic that we are going in the right direction.

"We have gone into that spell where things are not going our way in cup matches and you really cannot put a finger on it. I remember even in the game against Pirates, we were at 70/30 in terms of ball possession and we had a lot of shots at goal," the coach explained. 

“We did everything right against them and unfortunately during the later stages of the game they created a goal out of nothing and we lost a final. In the MTN8, we also did very well there and I wouldn’t blame anything on the team. In football, you must know that sometimes you win or lose. It is unfortunate that in a competition where you have scored 12 goals in four matches and only conceded two you lose in the final," added. 

“That is the most sore point. I won the MTN8 with Golden Arrows and I think we scored 11 goals and conceded one. This time around we have scored 12 and conceded two, but we are out without a cup. For me, that was a good return but unfortunately, when it mattered the most, that's when we let it go."

Mngqithi assumed head coaching control at Sundowns following Rhulani Mokwena's move to Wydad Athletic Club in Morocco at the beginning of the season.

The Brazilians have accumulated a total of 18 points in their first seven matches, experiencing just one defeat at the hands of Polokwane City, who seemingly have become their hoodoo team. 

Despite having spent more than a decade with the Chloorkop-based giants, some of the club's supporters have been lacking faith in the 53-year-old coach.

Mngqithi will be aiming to demonstrate his value to Downs' fans by winning both the league and the Nedbank Cup, while also performing strongly in the Caf Champions League.

It is very improbable that Mngqithi would be let go, as it seems that the Sundowns management truly believes in him and his technical team.

The outspoken mentor and his troops must swiftly move past the Magesi defeat, as they are set to face AS Maniema Union from Congo in the group phase of the Caf Champions League.