FARPost unpacks seven key revelations from coach Manqoba Mngqithi about his departure from Tanzanian giants Young Africans SC, just 106 days into his tenure.
Yanga announced Mngqithi’s exit on Sunday following a goalless draw against TRA United, despite a promising start in which he won 10 of his 13 matches across all competitions.
The former Mamelodi Sundowns coach had guided Timu ya Wananchi to the CAF Champions League group stages and lifted the Community Shield after beating Steve Barker’s Simba SC. However, a subsequent Kariakoo Derby defeat to their fierce rivals earlier this month fueled speculation about his future.
Speaking to Andile Ncube on Metro FM, Mngqithi offered his account of the split, addressing disagreements over player discipline, his relationship with Stephane Aziz Ki and criticism of his playing style.
Here are seven key talking points from the interview.
1. MNGQITHI’S PRINCIPLES MATTERED MORE THAN KEEPING THE JOB
Mngqithi said the separation was partly a matter of professional conviction, adding that he was unwilling to compromise his beliefs to keep the job. “It was a matter of principle. I wanted to make sure my principles, beliefs and ethics remained intact.
That was more important than holding on to a job, and that was basically why we parted ways,” Mngqithi said on SNAWA.
He said tensions had developed before the Simba encounter and Yanga’s final match under his guidance. However, he maintained that he respected the club and those he worked with.
“I honestly don’t think it had anything to do with football. The team was good to me, the president [Hersi Ally Said] was good to me, and my staff worked very hard. We achieved most of our targets.”
2. PLAYER DISCIPLINE CAUSED DISAGREEMENTS WITH YANGA MANAGEMENT
The clearest explanation of those differences concerned the club’s approach to players who missed training. Mngqithi alleged that some absences were treated too leniently, creating an environment that conflicted with the standards he wanted to enforce.
“The team needs to improve its level of professionalism. It cannot be normal for a player to miss training and face little disciplinary action,” the 55-year-old coach said. He identified the issue as a significant source of disagreement with management, without naming the players involved.
“That was probably the biggest issue. It was something management and I would disagree about because I cannot accept a player missing training and that being treated as normal.”
He added that he had communicated his concerns to the club’s leadership, arguing that players should face consequences when they failed to fulfil their responsibilities.
3. MNGQITHI REJECTS CLAIMS HE LOST THE DRESSING ROOM
He went on to dismiss reports that he had lost his dressing room. “I wouldn’t want to entertain the suggestion that I had lost the dressing room because I know it’s not true. How does a coach who has lost the dressing room have players running the way ours did?” He pointed to several aspects of Yanga’s play to support his argument. “Look at the intensity, possession and chance creation. Players wouldn’t run like that for a coach who had lost the dressing room. But time is always the best judge.”
4. AZIZ KI’S FITNESS ISSUES
The former Golden Arrows mentor further denied clashing with Yanga midfielder Stephane Aziz Ki, saying his concerns were about the player’s physical readiness and the demands of his system. “I didn’t have an issue with Aziz Ki. He joined the team late, and there were still aspects of his physical condition that needed attention,” explained Mngqithi.
Although he praised the Burkina Faso international’s technical ability, he said it had to be matched by the movement and defensive contribution expected of his attacking players.
“In my system, he is expected to help us in attack, contribute to counter-pressing and be involved in every aspect of the game.”
He also rejected the suggestion that Aziz Ki should be credited with the power to remove him. “We shouldn’t be unfair to the player by giving him power he might not have.”
5. MANAGEMENT DIDN’T PRESSURE HIM TO PLAY AZIZ KI
Despite his disagreements with management over discipline, Mngqithi explicitly denied interfering in his selection decisions regarding Aziz Ki. The Burkinabe arrived after the season had already begun with the Libyan side Al Ittihad SC and had no pre-season.
“I would be unfair to management if I said they put me under pressure to play Aziz. There was never a discussion in which they told me whether to play him. They allowed me to work on his physical condition.”
The coach said he intended to gradually increase the player’s involvement as his fitness improved.
“When he wasn’t playing initially, it was because he wasn’t fit enough. Once he started playing, I wanted to build him up through 30 minutes, 45 minutes and 60 minutes, until he could play 90.”
According to Mngqithi, a red card in the hard-fought 1-0 win over Geita Gold then interrupted that process and set the player back as he missed the Kariakoo Derby through suspension.
6. HE’S CONVINCED YANGA PLAYED GOOD FOOTBALL
In response to criticism of his playing style, he defended Yanga’s ability to create and score across phases of play, arguing that their approach offered multiple routes to winning matches.
“When you have a team that builds from the back and scores from build-up play, counter-pressing, transitions and set pieces, I believe that is the kind of team you want.”
Mngqithi said much of the criticism he encountered came through social media and insisted it could not determine his coaching decisions.
“The issue was raised with me as something people were saying on social media. But I can’t build my team around what faceless individuals say online.
“You then ask yourself: what exactly is good football? Is it allowing players to dribble without achieving anything? In my opinion, we played exceptional football.”
7. FITNESS COACH’S AXING SURPRISED HIM
Mngqithi said he was surprised by the axing of Yanga’s fitness coach, Tshephang ‘Chyna’ Mokaila, whom Romain Folz had brought to the club at the start of the 2025/26 season.
“The fitness coach is coming back with me. I don’t understand why he was released because our team was one of the fittest in the league. We suffered very few muscle injuries.”
He gave a strong endorsement of Mokaila’s work and indicated that he would welcome another opportunity to work with him.
“He is a very good fitness coach, one of the best I’ve worked with. If I get an opportunity elsewhere, I would like to work with him again. In my opinion, he is a cut above the rest.”
RELATED STORY: Simo Dladla to lead Yanga after Manqoba Mngqithi’s sacking
