Why Manqoba Mngqithi backs Sundowns to outlast Pirates in title race

As the Betway Premiership title race hurtles toward a dramatic photo-finish, Golden Arrows head coach Manqoba Mngqithi has provided a compelling argument for why Mamelodi Sundowns remain the team to beat.

Despite a relentless and resurgent challenge from Orlando Pirates, Mngqithi believes the Brazilians’ unparalleled roster depth is the “no-brainer” factor that will ultimately decide the destination of the trophy.

The midweek action intensified the pressure at the summit as both titans secured narrow 2-1 victories. At Loftus Versfeld, Masandawana extended their 2026 unbeaten streak to six matches, dispatching Arrows through clinical strikes from Teboho Mokoena and Iqraam Rayners on Wednesday night.

Meanwhile, in Polokwane, the Sea Robbers maintained their position at the top of the log on goal difference, thanks to a last-gasp Patrick Maswanganyi winner.

Both clubs sit deadlocked on 44 points after 19 games, but for Mngqithi—a man who spent a trophy-laden decade within the Chloorkop machinery—the psychological and physical advantage lies firmly with the defending champions.

𝙈𝙉𝙂𝙌𝙄𝙏𝙃𝙄: 𝙎𝙐𝙉𝘿𝙊𝙒𝙉𝙎 𝘼𝙍𝙀 𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝙁𝘼𝙑𝙊𝙐𝙍𝙄𝙏𝙀𝙎

Manqoba Mngqithi weighed in on the battle for supremacy between Pirates and Sundowns following Tuesday’s action.

The Arrows mentor believes Masandawana’s ability to rotate quality is what will eventually… pic.twitter.com/mvdJoN51sB

— Pan-Africa Football (@PanAfricaFooty) March 5, 2026

The Luxury of Rotation at Sundowns

Mngqithi’s endorsement of Sundowns isn’t based on sentiment, but on the staggering array of talent available to the technical team. Having served as an assistant, co-coach, and head coach during his tenure at the club between 2013 and 2024, he knows exactly how the Masandawana engine room operates under pressure.

“What I’ll say is that I always believed that Sundowns have what it takes to win the league, and I’ve always said it. I’m not mincing my words there,” Mngqithi remarked following his side’s defeat in Pretoria.

“If you look at the players that were not on the pitch,  that team has what it takes to win the league. I like the competition that Pirates are bringing… but the reality is this team has depth. Other teams, maybe I can take one or two big teams and say if player A and B were not in the team, the team would not be the same.”

A ‘No-Brainer’ for the Run-In: Mngqithi

The Arrows mentor pointed to the specific names currently populating the Sundowns bench and starting XI as evidence of a gap that other teams, including Pirates, struggle to bridge. He noted that even in the absence of a talisman like Mokoena, the quality does not dip.

“At Sundowns, if Teboho [Mokoena] is not there, Marcelo Allende is there, Jayden Adams is there, Bathusi Aubaas is there, and [Sphelele] Mkhulise is there. For me, Mkhulise should be playing regularly as well, so there is so much depth in every position.”

As the season enters its “stressful” final stretch, Mngqithi insists that the ability to rotate high-quality personnel without losing tactical identity will be the deciding factor.

“Based on that, even when the season becomes stressful, they’ve got enough quality for the PSL. So I don’t think there is any issue there and no one should think there is contention there; for me, it’s a no-brainer.”