The future of coach Manqoba Mngqithi at Mamelodi Sundowns is in doubt after the recent changes in the team.
FARPost has an inside story of what prompted Sundowns management to demote Mngqithi to a third-in-command and the possible next step in his career.
Mngqithi had, before the reshuffle, served as co-coach with Rhulani Mokwena, whereas Steve Komphela was the senior coach.
However, the reshuffle saw Mokwena becoming head coach, Komphela as first-team coach and Mngqithi as senior coach.
WHAT HAPPENED?
An insider told FARPost that the departure of coach Pitso Mosimane for Al Ahly in Egypt in 2020 proved to be the genesis of Mngqithi’s predicament.
Some quarters in Sundowns’ rank and file are said to have pushed for Mngqithi’s exit, whereas others wanted him to stay. And he did.
“Coach Manqoba always knew things would change at the club after coach Pitso Mosimane left. Some people wanted him to go while others wanted him to stay,” the insider told FARPost.
“There were discussions on who was to replace coach Pitso. The first option was bringing in a European coach, but the club did not want to destabilise the camp, and that is when coach Steve Komphela’s name came in.
“Both coach Manqoba and coach Rhulani gave the thumbs up to the coming in of Komphela, but the tricky part was: ‘what would be his role?’ That is how the co-coaching thing came about.”
All seemed well in the coaching panel, evidenced by the DStv Premiership giants’ commanding displays in the 2020 and last seasons.
“In the first and second half of last season, there were no issues despite some quarters fearing a clash of egos among the trio. They managed to win a treble until recently when it was time to make changes in the squad,” the source said.
However, the wheels started coming off towards the end of last season and the opening stages of this campaign. The trio differed on issues such as player selection for matches.
“The issue of signing, releasing and selecting players was the first challenge for the trio. They could not agree on certain things, which then affected the club,” the source said.
“Management intervened to make the changes because performance-wise, the club was slowly declining, especially towards the end of last season and the beginning of this campaign.”
The Tshwane giants announced the coaching panel reshuffle after suffering a 3-0 loss to Orlando Pirates in the MTN8 semifinal, the second leg on October 22 2022.
The changes have prompted other teams to court Mngqithi, even though his agent Mike Makaab insists that his client will see out his contract, which ends mid-next year.
POSSIBLE DESTINATION FOR MNGQITHI
Mngqithi is the long-serving coach at Sundowns, joining them in 2014 as Mosimane’s right-hand man.
The pair, alongside Mokwena, won every trophy on offer, including six league titles and the CAF Champions League title in 2016.
So, what could be Mngqithi’s next destination if he ends his eight-year romance with the DStv Premiership giants?
According to another insider, teams in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng are courting Mngqithi.
“Coach Manqoba is wanted by DSTV Premiership teams in Gauteng and not only in KZN, as some reports have suggested. If he leaves Sundowns, AmaZulu FC would be a project he would fancy taking,” he said.
“He has a strong relationship with the club’s previous bosses, the Sokhela family, and the new owners, the Zungus. There is a feeling that his experience can contribute immensely to the current state of KZN football.”
Mngqithi is on record as he would consider moving back to KZN in the future, as it is his home of origin.
Such a move might happen sooner than later, given the recent developments at Sundowns.
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