Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Manqoba Mngqithi leaned on the famous Pitso Mosimane excuse after an MTN8 exit, but statistics show a different picture.
Sundowns were knocked out of the MTN8 in the semi-finals after a 1-0 defeat to Stellenbosch FC in the second leg for a 2-0 loss on aggregate.
After the result, Mngqithi suggested he won't press panic buttons yet as The Brazilians have traditionally struggled early in the season with the MTN8 tournament.
During the Mosimane era at the club, the well-decorated coach never got to win the trophy, which he dubbed "a pre-season cup".
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The Tshwane giants were always knocked out in the early stages and the ex-Bafana Bafana mentor usually reasoned that the MTN8 came too early in the season, when they are yet to establish any rhythm, hence he coined it a pre-season tournament.
Mngqithi leaned on that excuse after their struggles were punished by Stellies.
"I'm not panicking at this point because I know sometimes MTN8, all the years I have been here at this club, we know what happens at the beginning stages of the season," Mngqithi told journalists in a post-match conference.
"We always struggle sometimes and at this stage is worse, because most of your key players are the ones that are not hitting top gear, but we're hoping that we will come back strong."
However, since Sundowns reached the MTN8 final in 2020 and won the tournament for the first time since 2007 the following campaign, they have not suffered any first -round exit.
In fact, since 2017, and Mngqithi brushing aside their exit in the semi-finals is seemingly just papering over the cracks under his reign.
Once a team reached the semi-finals, there's no longer an excuse that can be made for not yet clicking, as the semis are played over two legs.
In Sundowns' case, they had a pre-season tour in Austria, preparing alongside some of the best clubs from around the world.
The last time they under-performed in the tournament, they were hammered 3-0 by Orlando Pirates in the semi-final second leg in October 2022 and 3-0 on aggregate, where Mngqithi was demoted, in the dismantling of the co-coach arrangement, with Rulani Mokwena elevated to head coach.
Under the 37-year-old, the team reached the final last year, losing to Bucs on penalties.
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Ironically, Mokwena, who was relieved of his duties, officially, for "not meeting objectives" set by the club, has set the benchmark at Sundowns.
With the start of the Betway Premiership season around the corner, and Mokwena having won 11 consecutive league games last term, the first few matches could be a make-or-break for the former Golden Arrows mentor at Chloorkop.