Mamelodi Sundowns will elevate Manqoba Mngqithi to the position of new head coach.
Mngqithi was in negotiations with the DStv Premiership champions to renew his contract as assistant coach but — following the dismissal of Rulani Mokwena on Wednesday — the Sunday Times has learned the club will now appoint Mngqithi to take charge at the Chloorkop-based team.
Club and coach are in talks to tie down a term of between three to five years in a conversation expected to be concluded in the coming days.
Mngqithi’s manager Mike Makaab told the Sunday Times the negotiations to extend his contract as assistant coach had to change to possibly that of the main man in charge when Mokwena was relieved of his duties.
“We were busy negotiating a new deal [for the assistant coach role] when all of this broke this week. A new contract has not been signed as yet but we are in the process of finalising the deal with Mamelodi Sundowns,” Makaab said yesterday.
Sundowns will want to sign off on the deal before jetting off to Austria for part of their pre-season training to prepare for the pursuit of a straight eighth league title in the forthcoming 2024-2025 campaign.
An insider said the Brazilians will head to Europe for a two-week camp “either on Sunday or Monday next week. We’re negotiating with Red Bull Salsburg (an Austrian outfit). Saudi Arabia Pro League side Al Hilaal have also confirmed a friendly. We are looking to play a minimum of four friendly matches, like we did in the Netherlands before the start of last season.”
Sundowns yesterday morning announced it had reunited with coach Steve Komphela who had left the club in July last year. Komphela had a stint at the now defunct Moroka Swallows before flying out of the Birds nest to nestle at Lamontville Golden Arrows.
“Mamelodi Sundowns today welcomed Steve Komphela, who will serve as senior coach and will assist Mangqoba Mngqithi and the technical team,” the club said in a statement.
Mngqithi has been a crucial cog at Sundowns, serving in different guises of the club’s coaching ensemble in their decade-long dominance of the domestic soccer scene.
The former Arrows mentor joined in 2014 as second in command to Pitso Mosimane. When Mosimane left in 2020 to join Africa’s super giants Al Ahly after a trophy-laden eight-year tenure, Mngqithi assumed the co-coach role with Mokwena.
In a musical chairs move Mngqithi was demoted to assistant and Mokwena assumed the head coach position until his reign had its dramatic end on Wednesday.
Komphela has expressed happiness to be back “where I was always inspired and treated with respect and love”.
He added: “I am committed to contributing to the club achieving its goals in South Africa and on the African continent.”
Mngqithi’s elevation and Komphela’s return will mitigate against instability and disruption as both men are well versed with stewarding the club that is on a quest to cement its status as a permanent player in the elite of African football.
Sundowns has been reaping the rewards of stability in the coaching department, with the changes allowing for a seamless transition from Mosimane, Mngqithi to Mokwena, and will hope for more of the same with Mngqithi going back to the wheel.
The club will need to reinforce other areas of the technical department following several departures, including masseur Thabiso Moshane, chief analyst Dayle Solomon, physical trainer Sibusiso Mahlangu and performance analyst Sbu Makitla. “The other performance analyst, Mario Masha, has not left,” said the club insider.
“All these departments are key to the success of the club. They are going to have additional members added in the other areas of the technical team because our demands are dictated by the large number of games we play.”
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