Mamelodi Sundowns senior coach Manqoba Mngqithi has given his thoughts on reopening the DStv Premiership on New Year's Eve, at the peak of the festive period.
Sundowns will renew their rivalry with Orlando Pirates when they resume their campaign on the 31st of December.
The Brazilians somewhat got their revenge of being knocked out of the MTN8 by Pirates in the semi-finals with a 3-0 loss in the second leg after thrashing the Buccaneers 4-0 in the Carling Black Label Cup final, albeit in a friendly tournament.
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The PSL has been criticized in some quarters for assigning fixtures in the peak of the festive period, where the players could be distracted and supporters may also have divided attention as it is a holiday period.
However, Mngqithi, who was demoted following the restructuring of the technical team after the heavy defeat against the Sea Robbers, says it is their duty to entertain and they will not lose focus.
"The biggest thing that we must all understand is that we are entertainers," Mngqithi said via Sundowns Magazine when asked about playing on New Year's Eve.
"Entertainers must always be at work when people are resting. That's the truth of the matter.
"When everyone else is on holiday, it's the time for us and everyone in the industry to accept that it is our duty to entertain the people who are at home."
The former Golden Arrows mentor, who was at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, along with his technical team members, Rulani Mokwena, Steve Komphela and Wendell Robinson, also went on to reveal that he has been following Morocco very closely.
The Atlas Lions appointed former Wydad Casablanca coach Walid Regragui, three months before the showpiece in Qatar after parting ways with Vahid Halilhodzic.
Regragui won the CAF Champions League with Wydad in May and Mngqithi went on to say that he has been following his progress due to Sundowns' rivalry with the Moroccan giants over the years in the African premier club competition.
"Structurally and tactically he is very astute," Mngqithi stated.
"He is a good leader also. He has the capacity to bring out the best of his players. There are some of his players who were not looking very good under Faouzi Benzarti but the moment he got an opportunity he really showed that he can take over and make the team a formidable side."
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Morocco had an impressive start in their Group F campaign, where they held 2018 World Cup runners-up Croatia to a goalless draw and beat FIFA second-ranked nation Belgium 2-0 in their second game.
The Atlas Lions are also in the same 2023 Africa of Nations qualifiers group with Bafana Bafana.
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