A Tale of Frustration and Resilience

For a club as dominant as Mamelodi Sundowns in South African football, cup finals have become an unexpected Achilles’ heel. Once again, Manqoba Mngqithi finds himself under scrutiny following his team’s shocking 2-1 defeat to Magesi FC in the Carling Knockout final. The loss marks Sundowns’ third consecutive defeat in major cup finals, extending a drought that dates back to their MTN8 and Nedbank Cup triumphs in the 2021-22 season.

Despite this run of heartbreaks, Mngqithi remains defiant. Speaking after the match, the coach asserted his belief that the team is still progressing in the right direction.

“If you choose to become a coach, you must expect that our jobs are always under scrutiny every week because we have to deliver,” he said. “Unlike a CEO who reports annually, football coaches are evaluated constantly. And I am still optimistic that we are going in the right direction.”

The Sundowns arrived in Bloemfontein as overwhelming favourites against newly promoted Magesi FC. However, the underdogs, led by coach Clinton Larsen, pulled off a stunning upset. Larsen, who had previously defeated Sundowns in the 2012 Telkom Knockout final with Bloemfontein Celtic, once again masterminded a victory against the Brazilians.

Mngqithi reflected on the team’s struggles in cup finals, acknowledging their recent history of near-misses.

“We have gone into that spell where things are not going our way in cup matches, and you really wouldn’t put a finger on it,” he said. “In the game against Pirates [last season’s MTN8 final], we dominated possession and had more shots, yet they scored a goal out of nothing. It’s a similar story in this competition—12 goals scored, only two conceded, and yet we walk away empty-handed.”

The coach pointed out that the team’s overall performance remains commendable, even if the outcomes in finals don’t reflect their dominance.

“In football, you must accept that sometimes you win or lose. It’s unfortunate, but I’m proud of the effort the team has shown.”

As Sundowns continue to dominate the Premiership with seven consecutive league titles, Mngqithi insists the team is on the right track. However, turning that league dominance into cup success remains a challenge they are yet to overcome.