Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Manqoba Mngqithi could feel like he betrayed his own beliefs, as a decision to play most of the Bafana Bafana players seemingly cost them the Carling Knockout trophy.
After Sundowns were knocked out of the MTN8 semi-finals by Stellenbosch FC without scoring, Mngqithi decided to rotate his team, after stating that some of his experienced players did not perform according to expectations.
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He was vindicated as a much different team, with the likes of Teboho Mokoena and Khuliso Mudau reserved, was winning games convincingly.
However, ahead of the Carling Knockout final, the tactician had a big decision to make, as most of the players played two international matches, away and home for Bafana Bafana against Uganda and South Sudan respectively, the latter four days before the big fixture against Magesi FC.
Still, Mngqithi included seven players who were heavily involved with Bafana, in Ronwen Williams, Khuliso Mudau, Mothobi Mvala, Aubrey Modiba, Teboho Mokoena, Iqraam Rayners, and Bathusi Aubaas.
There was also Peter Shalulile, who played for Namibia against Cameroon and Kenya, though he came off the bench against the latter.
Unfortunately, Sundowns started to run out of legs in the second stanza, where they conceded two goals, in Saturday's 2-1 defeat.
This was due to fatigue, according to former midfielder Tiyani Mabunda.
"Honestly, it becomes difficult when you lose control of the game, when you're Mamelodi Sundowns and you're leading, having scored a beautiful goal and when you come into the second half, we started off as if we're still in the change room," Mabunda said on The Pitchside Podcast.
"The tempo became a little bit slower. In the second half, it was a little bit reserved, slower. Maybe the legs started to kick in, because remember the majority of the squad has been playing [international games] for the past two weeks non-stop.
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"But experience should've kicked in at that time. Show maturity and leadership, use the experience, slow down the game and control the game. Keep possession because they are waiting for a counter. You don't give them that opportunity, because you have to chase," Mabunda reflected.
Mngqithi not sticking to his rotation policy where it mattered most opened doubt into his suggestions that every Sundowns player is good enough to play for the club, regardless of the occasion.