Royal AM have reacted to reports that they are angling for demoted Mamelodi Sundowns coach Manqoba Mngqithi.
The media reports have been suggesting that Shauwn ‘MaMkhize’ Mkhize is weighing the possibility of coaxing Mngqithi now that he is no longer Sundowns’ head coach.
WHAT ROYAL AM GM SAID
In reaction, Royal AM General Manager Richard Makhoba dismissed such reports linking his club to Mngqithi.
“Yes, I can confirm that there is no truth to the allegations, and we would like to distance ourselves from it as it is false and lacks correct facts,” Makhoba told FARPost.
The Durban-based club joined the DStv Premiership last season after buying the Premiership status of Bloemfontein Celtic, then under coach John Maduka.
Royal AM inherited the Malawian coach and some players as they relocated to Durban last season.
Maduka delivered the goods after taking Royal AM to a respectable third-place finish which earned them CAF Confederation Cup football.
However, Maduka jumped ship in the pre-season to join Maritzburg United before he was fired weeks ago over poor results.
SHORT-LIVED DANCE WITH MALESELA
Royal AM management reacted by recruiting Dan ‘Dance’ Malesela to work with Khabo Zondo and Abram Nteo.
However, Malesela spent a few months with Royal AM before dancing his way back to Marumo Gallants, leaving Zondo and Nteo in charge.
However, it is the changes that have happened at Sundowns that have ignited the media reports that Mngqithi could join Royal AM.
The DStv Premiership champions reshuffled their coaching panel by making Rhulani Mokwena head coach.
Previously, Mokwena and Mngqithi worked as co-coaches, with Steve Komphela serving as senior coach.
The changes saw Komphela being promoted to first-team coach, with Mngqithi replacing him as senior coach.
MANQOBA MNGQITHI AGENT’S REACTION
Mngqithi’s agent Mike Makaab told the media last month that the coach had accepted the coaching reshuffle with humility.
Makaab said Mngqithi was eager to see out his contract, which expires mid-next year. “Apparently, they were called into a meeting, and it was done amicably. Manqoba is not upset at all, and I mean that,” Makaab told the media.
“We had a long discussion on it when he called me. He is a very sensible person, and he accepts that the team has not been doing well.
“And he supports whatever decision the management has taken. Manqoba is a mature person… Mature and emotionally very stable person.”
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