Kagisho Dikgacoi on Mngqithi settling for assistant coach role at Sundowns
With Manqoba Mngqithi set to extend his stay at Mamelodi Sundowns, his former protégé Kagisho Dikgacoi has weighed in on his ex-coach settling for the assistant coach role at Masandawana.
Dikgacoi worked with coach Mngqithi alongside Khabo Zondo at Abafana Bes’thende between 2006 and 2009.
The retired footballer left Golden Arrows in 2009 to join Fulham in the English Premier League. He then went on to represent teams such as Crystal Palace and Cardiff City in England, where he actually spent five years before returning to South Africa.
In an interview with FARPost recently, the 39-year-old was quizzed if it makes sense for him that Mngqithi has opted to be an assistant at Masandawana for quite some time.
Mngqithi joined the Chloorkop-based outfit during the 2013/14 season as assistant coach to Pitso Mosimane.
Since joining Sundowns, Mngqithi has won seven league trophies and three domestic cup titles, including the CAF Champions League in 2016 and the CAF Super Cup in 2017.
KAGISHO DIKGACOI’S THOUGHTS ON MANQOBA MNGQITHI’S ROLE AT MAMELODI SUNDOWNS
Dikgacoi believes that Mngqithi still has a lot to offer, citing that he would like to see him back in a head coach role.
However, he insists that he doesn’t see much difference between the head coach and assistant, as the two make decisions together even though the head coach has the final say.
“To be honest, in my opinion, obviously, at the end of the day, the head coach makes the final decision, but some things have to be discussed before the decision has been made. I don’t see the difference between being the assistant coach and the head coach,” Dikgacoi told this publication.
“But I think he still has so much impact in the decision making. That’s why sometimes Sundowns is doing so well.
“I don’t think the only reason Sundowns is doing well is because of coach Rulani [Mokwena] only, but also the impact of coach Manqoba [Mngqithi] and the other coaches they are having in the team that makes it the quality Sundowns team that they are today.”
‘HE’S ONE OF THE COACHES THAT I ADMIRED’: KAGISHO DIKGACOI
Dikgacoi further stated that Mngqithi is one of the coaches that he really admires, describing him as a coach who has everything that it takes to be the best coach.
“Having worked with him before, I must say he’s one of the best coaches that I really admired. He would get the best out of his players at all times,” he added.
“I feel he still got a lot to offer. I would love to see him getting back to that head coach role because he got all it takes to be a head coach, not working under a different coach.”
Mngqithi is set to renew his stay at the club, as his previous contract with Sundowns ended on June 30, 2024, FARPost has been informed.
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