Mamelodi Sundowns tactician Manqoba Mngqithi has expressed his admiration for several Kaizer Chiefs players that impressed him despite the Soweto giants being on the receiving end of a thrashing in the Carling Knockout quarterfinal match.
Sundowns progressed to the semi-finals of the knockout competition after beating Chiefs 4-0 at a sold-out FNB Stadium on Saturday.
The goals came from Iqraam Rayners (brace), Peter Shalulile and Khuliso Mudau.
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Although it was a day to forget for the home side, Mngqithi spoke glowingly of some of the side's youngsters that started in the titanic encounter.
"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," Mngqithi told journalists in the post-match press conference.
"That [Mduduzi] Shabalala is a big factor in the game, and he also got some very good moments today. [Wandile] 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.
"But the biggest mistake that you can make with players like those is to put the load of a team as big as Kaizer Chiefs on their shoulders," added the veteran coach.
"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.
"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 [Nasreddine Nabi] 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.
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"But I'm still very impressed with how the coach and the technical 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," said Mngqithi.
Sundowns have been drawn against Marumo Gallants in the semi-finals this weekend, with the final set to for the Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein on 23 November.