Mngqithi: We Anticipate Great Things from Sales

Mamelodi Sundowns’ coach Manqoba Mngqithi expresses his satisfaction with Arthur Sales’ contributions to the team and anticipates even more as time goes on.

The 22-year-old Brazilian forward achieved his first goal for the Bafana Ba Style during their 3-0 victory on Saturday against Sekhukhune United at Loftus Versfeld Stadium.

While Sales has faced challenges in finding the back of the net for the Tshwane giants, he did manage two assists last month in their win over Polokwane City. He finally netted his first goal on Saturday via a penalty in the second half.

The former Lommel SK star also earned the Man of the Match title in their matchup against Babina Noko. Mngqithi was pleased with Sales’ display and noted that he has the potential to make significant contributions to the Brazilians this season. “What we wish to see is him contributing towards our victories,” Mngqithi stated when questioned by Sportswire following their 3-0 win over Sekhukhune United.

“Whether he scores himself, provides assists, or even a secondary assist, those contributions are what matter to us, rather than fixating solely on goals. Sometimes he might not score frequently, but if he continues to assist as he has with two so far [we will be satisfied].

“This progress is very encouraging, indicating that he is heading in the right direction. The adaptation process sometimes takes longer than expected.

“Another aspect we may overlook is that he is still quite young at 22 years old. His growth and development rely heavily on our efforts to guide and train him, ensuring we understand where he can be most beneficial to us. I was impressed with his movement on the pitch [Saturday], and I believe he can still elevate his game; there’s much more we expect from him.”

With Sundowns’ victory on Saturday, they have ascended to the top of the Betway Premiership. The former Golden Arrows coach remarked that while it is too soon to celebrate being in first place, he is pleased with the team’s performance. “At this stage, our focus is not on our position on the log, but rather on whether we are achieving our targets,” Mngqithi said.

“We successfully met our targets in the first cycle and are nearing our goals in the second cycle. This is promising because our primary focus is to respect the process and not get ahead of ourselves.

“The players are responding positively, and I recall that when we first attained 71 points, we had only garnered seven points in the initial cycle, but this time we have 12 points.

“Now, we are close to reaching our set objectives for this cycle, and that excites me because it shows we are on track. Therefore, while current standings may carry weight, at this point in the season, they aren’t paramount, as fluctuations can create unnecessary pressure, leading to feelings of underperformance. Overall, I am pleased with the team’s development.”

The Brazilians are set to play their next league match on 18 December against Stellenbosch FC. Before tackling Stellies, Mngqithi’s squad will face two Moroccan powerhouses, AS FAR and Raja Club Athletic, in the CAF Champions League.