With his Mamelodi Sundowns contract set to end in June, veteran coach Manqoba Mngqithi looks set to be one of the most sought-after coaches.
Indications are that the veteran coach Manqoba Mngqithi will leave Mamelodi Sundowns at the end of June when his contract lapses.
Though, with an option to extend for a further year, it appears the former Chippa United coach is prepared to leave after a fall-out with the Sundowns’ management.
Undoubtedly, Manqoba Mngqithi is one of the few shrewd tacticians in the PSL. And his availability will be music to the ears of several clubs looking to hire new coaches.
WHICH CLUBS ARE IN LINE TO LURE MANQOBA MNGQITHI
Manqoba Mngqithi has been in the books of Masandawana since 2014, when he served as Pitso Mosimane’s assistant coach.
But he carved his name as one of the best in 2009 when he helped Golden Arrows win their first major trophy.
They drubbed Ajax Cape Town 6-0 in the MTN8 final of 2009. Currently, he has one of the best profiles as a DStv Premiership coach.
So far, the Amazulu leadership has openly admitted that Mngqithi could solve their current coaching crisis.
Usuthu recently removed Romain Folz from the head coach post, with Ayanda Dlamini taking the reins on an interim basis.
And as they look for a substantive coach, AmaZulu president Sandile Zungu has his eyes on Mngqithi’s situation at Mamelodi Sundowns.
“The possibility of Manqoba Mngqithi is a mouth-watering one indeed for AmaZulu,” Zungu recently told Thabiso Mosia on Radio 2000.
“He would be no stranger to the club, having coached here before. But we must also respect the fact there’s an option on his current contract, and we must then respect his employers.”
If Amazulu manages to lure Mngqithi, it will be his second stint, having taken charge of the team between 2010 and 2011.
Amazulu are undoubtedly a perfect fit for the 51-year-old, considering the massive investment and financial backing.
Chippa United is another club that is Mngqithi’s potential destination. The Eastern Cape-based club recently made raft changes, replacing Morgan Mammila with Kurt Lentjies.
SIVIWE MPENGESI REGRETS AND ADMIRATION FOR MNGQITHI
Chippa United owner Siviwe Mpengesi recently admitted that he erred when he fired Mngqithi.
This suggests that Mpengesi is interested in the veteran gaffer’s services. More than 35 coaches have been subjected to Mpengesi’s wrath over the last 12 years.
“There’s only one coach [I regret firing]. It’s coach Manqoba [Mngqithi]. I was still young and had just gotten promoted.
“That year, 2012, I thought this thing is easy [the PSL], so I made those pronouncements and said we are going to win the league,” Mpengesi said.
Kaizer Chiefs is the third club that could easily be interested in Mngqithi’s services. Kaizer Chiefs will inevitably fire Arthur Zwane as head coach, looking at how he has fared.
Zwane has all but struggled to end Mamelodi Sundowns’ dominance. Despite the massive club backing, he has been left to fight for second position.
And it is without a shred of doubt that Mngqithi has the shrewd tactical acumen to get Amakhosi buzzing again.
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