Manqoba Mngqithi, who was recently sacked as head coach of Mamelodi Sundowns after a decade of success at the club, has spoken candidly about his career decisions, including a surprising revelation about Kaizer Chiefs.
Despite being linked with the Soweto giants recently, Mngqithi clarified that he has had no recent contact with Chiefs. However, he did make an interesting admission: he was in talks with Chiefs prior to his move to Sundowns in 2014.
Mngqithi, who joined Sundowns in 2014 as part of the coaching staff and later became head coach, was instrumental in the club's dominant run, helping the Brazilians secure multiple trophies.
His tenure at Sundowns was marked by significant achievements, including seven consecutive league titles, the CAF Champions League, and the inaugural African Football League title.
Reflecting on his decision to join Sundowns, Mngqithi revealed that at the time, Kaizer Chiefs were the dominant force in South African football. However, he ultimately chose Sundowns due to the club's potential for growth and ambition. His decision proved to be a wise one, as Chiefs soon entered a 10-year trophy drought, while Sundowns went on to achieve unmatched success both domestically and on the continental stage.
"I never thought I had an entitlement by being at Sundowns, because they picked me up when I was not working. I happened to join a club that had not won anything in seven years and everything changed for the better," he told Marawa Sports Worldwide.
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"One would say, 'what was on your mind when you joined Sundowns at that time?' They had not won anything and they had some top players - but my mind was it would be nice to bring this team back to it's former glory.
"For me that project made sense because at the time it looked defunct to someone from the outside because for seven years this club had not won anything because at the time I had an approach from Chiefs prior to Sundowns and I did my presentation at Chiefs and then suddenly Sundowns came when there was a slight delay and when I took that opportunity, I did not even want to still chat with Chiefs to find out what was happening with them. Chiefs were winning, but I felt it would be nice to be part of this environment," he added.
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Mngqithi's story is a testament to his foresight and understanding of footballing dynamics. While Chiefs were riding high, Mngqithi recognised the untapped potential at Sundowns, a choice that would shape the course of his career. His departure from Sundowns after 10 years of dominance marks the end of an era for the club, but his legacy as one of South Africa's most successful coaches remains intact.
