Sundowns coach says CAF win a morale booster ahead of Betway Premiership start

The two teams met in the first leg of the CAF Champions League second preliminary round at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville.

This was their second victory in their last six matches.

The Brazilians were in fine form against the Eswatini outfit and never in danger of losing the encounter.

Mngqithi says it was important to be triumphant.

"We always want to make sure that we excel in the games that we play and unfortunately when we don't win it looks like we have not done enough. Maybe a game like this will really help in the morale of the team going into the beginning of the championship [Betway Premiership] and for me that is probably the most important,” Mngqithi said.

“Now that the championship has started, we have no choice but to fight to make sure that we keep the team where [It was last season] and I'm very confident that we've got a good enough team to help us to achieve that."

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After managing only three goals in the previous five fixtures, Sundowns fired four past Mbabane Swallows, with Lucas Ribeiro grabbing a brace while Iqraam Rayners and Mosa Lebusa chipped in with one each. 

But Mngqithi was not convinced.

"I was happy with scoring four goals but I'm still unhappy because I think we got a lot of chances that we could have scored but we did not take those chances and in my space, I prefer that we try to improve our movements in the attacking third and when we improve that, it must also result in goals being scored," he added.

With four goals to the good and no reply from Mbabane Swallows, it is almost a foregone conclusion that the Brazilians will progress to the group stages, but Mngqithi says he will not allow complacency to creep in.

"To fight complacency at Sundowns, the biggest advantage we have is competition. When you think you'll sit and play whenever you want to play, you will always have a problem. The small opportunity that you get, that makes you excel and everybody to respect you, the other player behind you is just waiting for that opportunity,” the coach explained. “Look at the player like Lebo [Lebohang Maboe], he hasn't been playing for the longest time and when he comes in today and gives a performance like that, he's saying why can't I continue."

Mamelodi Sundowns and Mbabane Swallows will meet again in the second leg on Saturday, 21 September 2024, with the winner booking a spot in the group stages of the CAF Champions League.

But before that, the Brazilians face neighbours Supersport United on Tuesday in the Tshwane Derby in their league opener.