Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Manqoba Mngqithi has addressed questions over his future following a shock 2-1 defeat to newly-promoted Magesi FC in the Final of the Carling Knockout.
Dikwena tša Meetse made history when they became the first club to win the Carling Knockout in their first season of top-flight football, defeating Sundowns 2-1 at the Free State Stadium on Saturday.
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At the other end, the result meant that Sundowns' search for a first trophy this term will continue, courtesy of goals from Tshepo Kakora and Delano Abrahams after Iqraam Rayners had opened the scoring in the first half.
In the post-match press conference, Mngqithi was asked if he had any fears about his job security, with the Chloorkop-based outfit having already lost out on the MTN8 and currently trailing behind Orlando Pirates in the Betway Premiership standings.
"If you choose to become a coach, you must expect that in this space our jobs are always under scrutiny every week because we have to deliver," Mngqithi told journalists.
"It's unlike a CEO of a company - who has come at the end of the financial year (and deliver a report). With us football coaches, it is always going to be where are we going? Are we going in the right or wrong direction? And I am still optimistic that we are going in the right direction."
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The defending league champions have now lost all three of the last three cup finals they have participated in: the 2023 MTN8, 2023 Nedbank Cup and the 2024 Carling Knockout - a trend the tactician has taken note of.
"We have gone into that spell where things are not going our way in cup matches and you really cannot put a finger on it," added the 53-year-old.
"I remember even in the game against Pirates, we were about 70/30 in terms of ball possession and we had a lot of shots at goal.
"We did everything right against them and unfortunately, during the latter stages of the game, they created a goal out of nothing and we lost a final.
"In the MTN8, we also did very well there and I wouldn't blame anything on the team. In football, you must know that sometimes you win or lose.
"It is unfortunate that in a competition (Carling Knockout) where you have scored 12 goals in four matches and only conceded two, you lose in the final," added.
"That is the most sore point. When I won the MTN8 with Golden Arrows, I think we scored 11 goals and conceded one.
"This time around, we have scored 12 and conceded two, but we are out without a cup. For me, that was a good return, but unfortunately, when it mattered the most, that's when we let it go."
The Brazilians will have little time to lick their wounds as their next match comes as early as Tuesday, a CAF Champions League group stage clash against Maniema Union.