Mamelodi Sundowns co-coach Manqoba Mngqithi has revealed that Downs will be looking to sign three new players in specific positions in the off-season.

Much has been made about the Brazilians’ financial strength in recent weeks after Orlando Pirates co-coach Mandla Ncikazi’s ‘Woolworths’ comments, but this will not change how they operate at Chloorkop.

After this weekend’s 1-1 draw with Kaizer Chiefs, Mngqithi revealed the areas in which they would like to strengthen ahead of the new campaign.

“I do believe it does [need reinforcements]. We lost Ricardo Nascimento in the left centre-back position, so we only have Mosa Lebusa as a left centre back. As it is now, we have three centre backs out – Brian [Onyango], Rush [Rushine De Reuck] and Grant [Kekana]. We had to use Divine Lunga in the central defence position, so that already says that if we were still in the semi-finals of the Champions League, we would have played with that central defence and that says it’s an area we need to look at,” Mngqithi told media at FNB Stadium post-match.

“The central midfield, we lost Riva [Rivaldo Coetzee] earlier on in the season and we might still need to reinforce, probably with a bit of a different profile of a central midfielder in terms of the physical profile and all the other elements that may be important in that space. Up front, inasmuch as we have scored important goals, we have not scored enough in terms of the chances we have created. We are too reliant on Peter [Shalulile] inasmuch there were many other players who chipped in with a few goals.

“I do believe we might look to reinforce that area. There are other areas which are probably not as primary as those areas. Those three positions really need reinforcement.”