Mamelodi Sundowns coach Manqoba Mngqithi believes the return of Steve Komphela and the addition of former AmaZulu FC coach Romain Folz is key to Masandawana’s quest for greater success.
While the club is yet to make an official announcement, Mngqithi looks set to lead Sundowns in the new season.
This is after the unexpected and controversial departure of Rulani Mokwena, who is now the coach of Wydad Athletic Club of Morocco.
Mokwena’s exit led to a few holes in Masandawana’s technical team as other members also jumped ship.
Though the return of first-team senior coach Komphela shocked many, it is the appointment of Folz as assistant coach that has been met with divided opinions from the South African football fraternity.
When asked about the appointment of the two coaches, Mngqithi was rather in his response philosophical and hinted he may have had a hand in Folz and Komphela being part of the technical team.
“I will try not to answer your question directly, but I will say to you that good leaders know their strengths, but great leaders know their strengths and the strengths of those surrounding them,” Mngqithi said during the MTN8 launch in Johannesburg on Wednesday.
“And great leaders will always know that it’s not always up to only their leadership for the organisation to succeed.”
Mngqithi has suggested that under his leadership Sundowns may play a different style of football.
The former Golden Arrows coach said he is not obsessed with dominating ball possession but believes in creating goal-scoring opportunities.
The Tshwane giants carried out their pre-season in Austria where they play a few friendly matches against teams from Germany, the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia.
Sundowns get their season underway by hosting Polokwane City in the MTN8 quarter-final at Lucas Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville on Sunday, August 11.
They will be eager to do better in the tournament after their defeat to Orlando Pirates in the final last season.
Coach Manqoba Mngqithi and Captain Themba Zwane were in attendance at the MTN8 launch to preview this year's #WafaWafa tournament! 🏆8⃣#Sundowns #MTN8 pic.twitter.com/Kb0d1PdC9K
— Mamelodi Sundowns FC (@Masandawana) August 1, 2024
