Kickoff | Mngqithi advised to swallow pride at wobbly Downs

Sundowns's performance has not been convincing since the departure of Mokwena, who lost only one league game last season. The usually free-scoring side have so far netted a single goal in two matches, in their 1-0 extra-time MTN8 quarterfinals victory over Polokwane City. Former club star Papi Mbele is confident The Brazilians will overturn the 1-0 deficit against Stellenbosch FC in the second leg of the semi-final on Sunday in Durban.

"Steve Barker is cooking something at Stellenbosch, but what gives me hope is that Sundowns never lose two games in a row. There is no way that can happen," declares Mbele, in a conversation with this website. "Manqoba and Steve Komphela might bounce back on the weekend.



Yes, we might not be playing the way we used to, and there's no combination play, but that's because coaches are different. "When Themba Zwane came on against Stellenbosch, we started to see the Sundowns that we know. Before he came on, we couldn't even make four to five passes, which was concerning for me.

"The goalkeeper, Jody February, didn't have the confidence to start build-ups from the back as Ronwen Williams does," he continues. Mbele, who played in midfield in his heyday, then goes on to hand the former Golden Arrows gaffer crucial advice. "I don't know how Mngqithi came up with these strategies, but my advice to them is to continue where Rulani left off.

We still have the same players, we still have the core of the team, so why don't we continue with the style of play our footballers are used to? "But that said, I still believe Sundowns will win on Saturday. Players' attitudes and mindsets change with every coach. "Losing a coach is like losing a key player who is difficult to replace, so Rulani's position is still visible.

At the moment, we cannot even make four or five touches as a team. "We just need to continue where the previous coach left, it's as simple as that.".