MASANDAWANA
  COACHES
 SPEAK BEFORE

THE 2022/23 CAMPAIGN
© Sydney Mahlangu - BackpagePixAuthor: John AliuStrap yourselves in as the 2022/23 season takes centre stage. As always, there are plenty of exciting questions ahead of the new campaign.Who will score our first goal of the DSTV Premiership? How many freekicks will Lyle Lakay score? How many goal-scoring records will Peter Shalulile smash? How many trophies can our new jersey lead us to?

These and many more will be answered between now and the middle of next year, in what promises to be yet another enthralling season with nail-biting entertainment, but with a once-in-a-lifetime twist, a FIFA World Cup in November/ December!
With games expected to come thick and fast, Co-Head Coach Manqoba Mngqithi is anticipating a highly competitive season, “As a club, we begin each campaign with high expectations in every competition we are participating in; and this season is no exception. We had a thorough preseason and there are several innovative ideas we are looking to implement on the pitch. There is a renewed hunger for success within the squad and we are gunning for glory from start to finish.”

Despite the possible tweaks to the football calendar in South Africa later this year due to the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, Coach Manqoba is confident of the team’s readiness to compete whenever called upon.

“The FIFA World Cup happening in November and December is unprecedented and as such, there will be some adjustments to the dates and times of games. Those tweaks will happen not just in South African football, but across the world. At Mamelodi Sundowns, we have been conditioned to compete whenever we are required to. Whether it’s a Boxing Day fixture or a New Year’s Eve clash, we will be prepared to give our best on the pitch,” Coach Mngqithi declared.

The Umzimkulu-born tactician also praised the recently launched Mamelodi Sundowns Football Club jersey, “Oh! the new kit is unbelievable thanks to the quality designs and concepts. I strongly believe that we will achieve a lot with the new jersey.”
On what to expect from rival teams in the opening weeks of the new season, Co-Head Coach Rulani Mokwena said, “We are up against very solid teams in the first few weeks with the likes of Cape Town City, TS Galaxy and Kaizer Chiefs in the DSTV Premiership. We also have Supersport United in our MTN8 opener. These are huge fixtures that will require us to think outside the box, however, Champions live for these big games and we are ready to showcase our ultra-attacking display against anyone we compete against.”

Coach Mokwena also expressed the technical team’s readiness to play during the festive period if required, “Several leagues across the world and in the United Kingdom (UK) often play during these periods. At Mamelodi Sundowns, we are professionals who are always ready to play the game whenever we are required to do so. We love football and we just have to adapt to the situation of things when the time comes.”

In preparation for the new season, The Brazilians have bolstered key areas of the squad with the acquisition of midfielder Sipho Mbule, striker Abubeker Nassir and goalkeeper Ronwen Williams.

“Sipho is a player that we admired for a long time. It is a deal that we have worked hard on as a club and we must give thanks to the senior management and the board. Nassir comes from Ethiopia and the league over there is very competitive. Despite his young age, he has been playing regularly and scoring consistently in the Ethiopian League. We are happy to have Ronwen on the team, he is the Bafana Bafana captain and a top talent in the goalkeeping department,” concluded the Sandawana tactician.
Sipho MbuleAbubeker NassirRonwen WilliamsWith a squad brimming with talent and confidence, The Brazilians will be aiming to stamp their authority across the various competitions they will be participating in this campaign.
Get Ready for Another Exciting Season!Get Ready for Another Exciting Season!