Mngqithi Praises Shalulile: ‘He’s Got Too M…

Peter Shalule Praised For Goalscoring Form. Photo: X/@YoungAfricansSC

Young Africans head coach Manqoba Mngqithi has heaped praise on Peter Shalulile after the Namibian scored on his league debut in the defending champions’ 3-1 win over Namungo FC.

Check Out: Aziz Ki Joins SA Coach in Tanzania

The 32-year-old, who joined Yanga after leaving Mamelodi Sundowns, netted in the 90th minute to complete the victory at Majaliwa Stadium in Ruangwa, Lindi, in the opening match of the 2026/27 Mainland Premier League season.

Despite the comfortable scoreline, Mngqithi revealed that his side should have scored far more, saying the expected goals profile suggested they could have found the net six or seven times, according to The Guardian.

Mngqithi Hails Shalulile

The coach downplayed any suggestion that Shalulile was under pressure, instead emphasising his long-term goalscoring ability.

“No, this one is an old talk, man. He’s got too many goals in him,” Mngqithi said of the former Sundowns striker.

Mngqithi highlighted inefficiencies in the final third during the first half, where his side consistently accessed advanced zones but failed to convert high-value opportunities.

“The reality is that we created far too many chances in this game. I was just worried when you don’t take so many of your chances in the first half,” he said. “Games like this normally end up with a draw, or they steal it with one counter-attack,” Mngqithi added.

The coach explained that his halftime intervention focused on game state management rather than structural changes.

“I told the team to be more relaxed and not rush anything, not panic, because I knew they would get tired,” he added.

“The work we had done in the first half was very good in terms of the movement of the ball, so I knew that at some point they would lose their legs. I was not surprised when we started scoring,” the former Golden Arrows boss concluded.

Yanga Aim to Extend Domestic Dominance

The defending champions are chasing a sixth consecutive league title, having won the championship in each of the last five seasons from 2021/22 to 2025/26.

Mngqithi, who was appointed ahead of the new campaign, will be hoping to maintain Yanga’s domestic dominance while also making a serious push for CAF Champions League glory.

Check Out: Barker Admits Simba ‘Not At Their Best’ Despite Win

The 53-year-old will also face familiar opposition on the touchline, with fellow South African Steve Barker leading rivals Simba SC in what promises to be a tightly contested title race.

Related tags