Man-management will be high on the list of mandates for Mamelodi Sundowns coach Manqoba Mngqithi, who has opened up on what it's like to manage a squad of 40 players.
In a world where coaches can lose the dressing room, Mngqithi's ability to keep the squad fighting on the pitch throughout the campaign will be tested, with Sundowns determined to add more titles to the cabinet.
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Speaking to the media ahead of this weekend's CAF Champions League tie against Eswatini outfit Mbabane Swallows, the former Golden Arrows coach admitted that managing a big squad is no walk in the park, but explained why it's important for them to have as many players as they do.
"Managing the squad of 40 is not easy. I don't want to lie to you, it's not easy. We don't have much of an option if you consider the number of matches that we have. That is why we always try the best we can to have as big a technical team to make sure that even the players left behind are always taken care of. The number of matches suggests that we will always have problems at the end if we don't have enough personnel," Mngqithi said to media at Chloorkop on Thursday afternoon.
"The best thing we can do is give to respect and opportunity to all the players we keep here because it would not make sense to have a squad of 40 and you only play 24 players. We have that responsibility to try to keep everyone on his toes and wanting to be part of this thing. So far, it really looks good because I think the players who got an opportunity after we bombed out of the MTN8 are showing that 'we are also here'. I don't here you talking about these guys. You are only talking about the ones who are not playing."
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Sundowns take on Mbabane Swallows in the second leg of their second preliminary round clash in Tshwane on Saturday, after winning the first leg 4-0.
