Mamelodi Sundowns co-coach Manqoba Mngqithi did not agree with some of the referee’s decisions in their victory over Stellenbosch.

The Brazilians needed a late header from talisman Peter Shaulile to secure a come-from-behind win over Stellies on Saturday afternoon.

Despite coming away with three points, Mngqithi pointed a couple incidents that the referee got wrong, which included a penalty appeal inside the first five minutes.

“I was not very happy first-half, I’m never somebody who’s going to be talking about refereeing but I think Gaston’s chance was a clear penalty, Lyle [Lakay]’s ball in the box for me was a handball and a handball inside the box is a penalty,” Sundowns co-coach said.

“But I don’t want to make a meal out of that because I also make mistakes in my line-up, the tactics, we make mistakes but I just felt there were moments, Thapelo [Morena]’s foul in the half-way line for me that was a straight red [card] but unfortunately in football you must take these things because referees are human beings and at times they make mistakes.

“And genuine mistakes just like we also make mistakes but those shouts, for me the Gaston one was the easiest for the referee to make the call but it’s water under the bridge now, we can focus on the next match.”

Mngqithi also went on to applaud the winning mentality of his charges.

“I think this is how champions are made, I think this is what you want to see in a team that want to be champions or to retain their title. I think they gave a very good account of themselves but honestly speaking the team work in the group is very good,” he continued.

“From the coaches I work with, the performance analysts, the medical department and the conditioning team, the whole technical team and the support staff, the players, the relationships, the cohesion is looking good and is encouraging for us.”

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Toni Silva joined Al Ittihad in 2019