Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Manqoba Mngqithi hopes to have silenced his critics with a 2-0 Betway Premiership win over SuperSport United.
The Brazilians had started their 2024/25 campaign on the backfoot as they lost to Stellenbosch in an MTN8 semi-final.
They were back to their best in a 4-0 demolition of Mbabane Swallows in the CAF Champions League and were eager for all three points heading into their opening game of the new league season at Loftus Versfeld on Tuesday.
New signing Iqraam Rayners bagged his second goal for the club, in two games, as he opened the scoring against Matsatsantsa after 62 minutes.
Lucas Ribeiro Costa then made sure of the result with his goal just three minutes later.
Mngqithi has been criticised for his team selections, and left Khuliso Mudau, Teboho Mokoena out of the squad to face SuperSport, while leaving Themba Zwane on the bench.
Reflecting on the criticism he has received since taking the head coach role, Mngqithi said he hasn’t been paying attention to any negativity around the team.
He said on FARPost: “I’m helped by the fact that I’m not on social media.
“So, I don’t listen to all the rubbish that people would say. So, that helps because sometimes you would be emotional from the pictures that people send and put on their thing, talking rubbish.
“Also, I’m a big boy, I’ve been in football for more than 20 years now and I know what is expected of me.
“In life, it’s important to accept that you have to face the realities and the good thing is I’ve got a very high self-esteem, I’m very confident. In my ability, I’m very confident and I know what I’m capable of.”
The Brazilians boss added: “So, if you listen to everybody, you’ll end up losing your mind. For me, it’s always important to trust my gut feeling, to trust my competency, to trust my abilities as a human being and to know that sometimes I can do so well but maybe luck might not be on my side and circumstances might not favour me.”