Former Mamelodi Sundowns striker Katlego Mashego has weighed in on the recent coaching changes at the club, stating that Manqoba Mngqithi being shown the Chloorkop exit door was not a surprise.
On Tuesday afternoon, Mamelodi Sundowns confirmed the departure of head coach Manqoba Mngqithi.
Mngqithi was replaced by Portuguese mentor Miguel Cardoso, who previously coached Tunisian giants Esperance FC. Notably, Esperance eliminated Sundowns from the CAF Champions League semi-finals last season, dashing their hopes of reaching the final.
Along with Mngqithi, coach Romain Folz and goalkeeper coach Wendell Robison also left the club. However, coach Steve Komphela and goalkeeper coach Kennedy Mweene retained their positions.
The former Golden Arrows coach, Mngqithi, was in charge of 19 matches across all competitions during his tenure. He achieved a commendable record with 13 wins, two draws, and four defeats.
Despite his positive results, Mngqithi failed to secure any silverware this season. Sundowns were eliminated by Stellenbosch FC in the semi-finals of the MTN8 and suffered a disappointing defeat against Magesi FC in the final of the Carling Knockout Cup.
In the Betway Premiership, the Tshwane giants have been impressive, currently sitting atop the log with 21 points from eight matches after a single defeat. They are closely matched with rivals Orlando Pirates, who share the same points tally.
On the continental stage, Sundowns are competing in the CAF Champions League. They currently occupy second place in Group B with two points after two matches. The group also includes DR Congo’s AS Maniema and Moroccan clubs AS Far and Raja Casablanca.
KATLEGO MASHEGO’S TAKE ON COACHING CHANGES AT HIS FORMER CLUB SUNDOWNS
The retired Bafana Bafana striker explained that Sundowns, as a club with ambitious goals, needs to consistently deliver trophies. He emphasised that this pressure likely contributed to Mngqithi’s departure, which he saw as a potential outcome.”
“Well, based on what I saw from the club and the performances, I don’t want to say the performances were not so good, but there was something different,” Mashego told FARPost.
“I think the management, the board, and the stakeholders saw something [wrong] and needed to change something, as well as the direction.
“We all know Mamelodi Sundowns is a big club; expectations are high. If the team is not performing, there will be a need for changes, so it wasn’t surprising for the coaching changes.”
RELATED STORY: Why Mashego sees ‘a team that can fight for league’ in Kaizer Chiefs