Manqoba Mngqithi appears to be in the mix to coach Kaizer Chiefs next season but the team’s indecisiveness could still see Mamelodi Sundowns extend the 52-year-old coach’s stay beyond the 10 years he’s spent at Chloorkop.
The Sunday Times understands there have been talks between Chiefs and Mngqithi’s representatives, but Amakhosi, who made it known through sporting director Kaizer Motaung Jnr this week that they will have a new coach installed by the start of 2024-2025 season, are yet to commit themselves on Mngqithi.
While Chiefs continue to dilly-dally on signing Mngqithi — the coach they actually wanted at the end of last season but failed to get because Sundowns acted on a clause that allowed him to stay one more season — the KwaZulu-Natal-born coach may end up signing a new contract at Sundowns as second in command to Rulani Mokwena.
“The new contract has been put in front of Mngqithi and his agent Mike Makaab. It’s now up to them to sign. If Chiefs don’t snatch Mngqithi, I think Sundowns will be happy to keep their assistant coach, who’s been vital to their success over the past decade,” a source close to all the parties told the Sunday Times.
Both Mngqithi and Makaab declined to confirm a new offer from Sundowns or any talks they may have had with Chiefs. “But I know they’ve had engagements with both Chiefs and Sundowns,” the source insisted.
“Chiefs, in particular, appear not to have made up their minds on who they want because they’ve called Makaab twice for meetings in Johannesburg but they didn’t pitch for those appointments.”
Chiefs have been linked with Mngqithi for the post held in the interim by Cavin Johnson, the club’s youth development head.
Former Bafana Bafana and Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane, who is currently on a four-month contract coaching Abha in Saudi Arabia, has been linked with Chiefs for months.
“No, there’s not been any engagement (with Chiefs),” was the response from Moira Tlhagale, the coach’s wife and agent, when asked this week if Chiefs are courting Mosimane, who is helping Abha to fight relegation in the money-spinning Saudi league.
Miguel Gamondi — the coach of Tanzanian club Young Africans, who won the PSL league title at Sundowns as a co-coach with Neil Tovey in 2005-2006 season — has also had his named mentioned as the potential coach for Amakhosi.
Gamondi has received rave reviews for taking Yanga to the quarterfinals of the Caf Champions League this season, something the club last achieved in 1970. The Argentinian’s familiarity with the South African league, and the fact that his contract with Yanga expires at the end of the current campaign, has seen his name thrown into the basket of those linked to the Chiefs hot seat.
“As you know, I’m actually under contract with Young Africans until the end of the season. It’s not professional of me to have contacts with other clubs without their knowledge,” the well-travelled 57-year-old coach told Sunday Times this week.
Speaking on the sidelines of the memorial service for slain Amakhosi defender Luke Fleurs at the FNB Stadium on Thursday, Motaung Jnr admitted that things have not gone according to plan in the 2023-2024 season, in which they sacked Molefi Ntseki in October after a string of bad results.
Chiefs are finishing with Johnson, who is struggling, with two defeats in the last league matches against Stellenbosch FC and Chippa United putting their potential to finish in the top eight in doubt.
Chiefs are in danger of going a decade without silverware next season. With that potentially disastrous occurrence in mind, Amakhosi surely would not want to still be searching for a coach at the start of the off-season, who might then arrive once the preseason had started, endangering their 2024-25 campaign.
Alongside caretaker coaches, Chiefs have had 10 men at the helm since their last trophy success, a league and cup double under Stuart Baxter in 2014-15. Some, like Gavin Hunt and Baxter on his return, had trophy pedigree but failed to bring back glory days at Naturena.
Motaung Jnr, who was asked to confirm that the wheels were in motion to appoint a new coach, said Amakhosi were looking at all the departments in their technical and back room structure that need strengthening.
“It’s a something we communicated from the onset — Cavin has stepped in on an interim basis, and we’re [committed] to having a different technical structure next season. I know we are focused on the next game, and the next seven games, and we have everything to play for. But yes, definitely the plans have long been in motion — we’ll be having a different technical structure next season.”
Motaung Jnr was evasive when asked if that means Chiefs already have names on their shortlist. “Well, you know, it’s our shortlist but who makes that shortlist? From our side, we’ve been preparing for a while now, and at the appropriate time we’ll make the right announcements.”
- Additional reporting by Marc Strydom
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