Manqoba Mngqithi bold on Nasreddine Nabi's 'biggest mistake' with Mduduzi Shabalala, Mfundo Vilakazi, Wandile Duba to 'put the load of a team as big as Kaizer Chiefs on their shoulders'

Mamelodi Sundowns dumped Kaizer Chiefs out of the Carling Knockout in emphatic fashion following a 4-0 win at FNB Stadium on Saturday.

It was a match Amakhosi coach Nasreddine Nabi fielded young players like Mduduzi Shabalala, Mfundo Vilakazi and Wandile Duba with all of them trusted to make a big impact.

Sundowns coach Manqoba Mngqithi feels Nabi threw the youngsters into the cauldron against his more experienced players.

“I don’t want to sound bad, but I think the youngsters that Kaizer Chiefs has brought into their first team are very good young boys,” said Mngqithi as per FARPost.

“Shabalala is a big factor in the game, and he also had some very good moments today [Saturday]. Duba played exceptionally well. I believe this is the feeling I have when I look at these boys. Vilakazi, when he’s given a chance, they are all very good football players.

“The biggest mistake that you can make with players like those [youngsters] is to put the load of a team as big as Kaizer Chiefs on their shoulders.

“But honestly speaking, I think those are exceptionally gifted players; I would love to have them on my team, as well. I don’t want to lie to you," added the former Golden Arrows coach.

“…Maybe the people we target. We don’t target youngsters; we target mostly senior players because we know some of the shortcomings they [young players] would have. But these youngsters, I don’t want to lie to you; they are all very impressive.

“I know the coach is probably forced to play the youngsters because they are the best players that they have at the moment. It’s just that my fear is if the load and the pressure is on their shoulders, it might probably break some of them down. 

“But I’m still very impressed with how the coach [Nabi] and the team has really played these boys because I think they are very influential. In almost all the good results that Chiefs got, a youngster was involved.”

Mngqithi's views might be inspired by the fact that Nabi has trusted young players at a time when their seniors in the team are struggling.

This is contrary to Sundowns who have youngsters like Siyabonga Mabena, Kutlwano Letlhaku and Thapelo Maseko being guided by accomplished players like Ronwen Williams, Themba Zwane, Mthobi Mvala and Teboho Mokoena.

With Chiefs senior players struggling to rise and lead the wonderkids, Chiefs' problems of recent years might resurface.

The Soweto giants have now gone for three consecutive matches without tasting victory.

That puts pressure on them to recover when they host Richards Bay in their next PSL match on September 27.