Teboho Mokoena celebrates after scoring a goal during Bafana Bafana’s Africa Cup of Nations round of 16 football match against Morocco FILE - Teboho Mokoena celebrates after scoring a goal during Bafana Bafana’s Africa Cup of Nations round of 16 football match against Morocco. Photo: Sia Kambou/AFP
Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Manqoba Mngqithi has hit back at Hugo Broos after the Bafana boss criticised his handling of holding midfielder Teboho Mokoena.
After featuring heavily for club and country last season, Mokoena is yet to see the inside of a football pitch for Sundowns this season.
Mokoena’s lack of game time has prompted Broos to publicly say he doesn’t agree with Mngqithi’s decision to sideline the 28-year-old.
And after Bafana Bafana’s 5-0 win over Congo in Gqeberha last week, where Mokoena scored twice, his inability to get into the Sundowns first team has come under the spotlight.
When asked to give his thoughts on Broos’ comments, Mngqithi said: “He must manage his house and allow me manage my house.
“Because nobody tells me who plays in this team. I cannot be expected to be told by another coach who to play in my team,” the Sundowns mentor was quoted by iDiskiTimes.
“The truth is we all know the quality of the players and they are going to help us. And we don’t have any problem with them. We resolved whatever minor issues we’ve had.
Mngqithi spoke about his respect for the Broos, and insisted he did not interfere with his tactical approach for the national team. He also praised the work that the Belgian has done in raising Bafana’s stature on the continent
“I respect him. He has done very well for this country. Everybody is excited. But you must understand we have a responsibility to manage our whole squads just like he manages his whole squad.
“I don’t have much to say in that space. The best thing could ever happen is for him to call me or for us to have a call where will talk about our situation because I never say ‘why you select that player and don’t select that player’ and I don’t expect another coach to do that – maybe administrators.
“With the respect that I have for him, you’ll give me a call and we discuss this thing as coaches. No one is bigger than anyone else, we are both coaches.”
Previously, Mngqithi said it was due to his preference of using Rivaldo Coetzee in the holding midfield role, where Mokoena thrived last season.
Last week, South African football icon Doctor Khumalo went as far as to say Mokoena should not be called up for the national team if he does not manage to get himself back into the Sundowns first team.
IOL Sport