Mamelodi Sundowns mentor Manqoba Mngqithi has expressed his confidence that the appointment of Romain Folz to the club's technical team will lead to substantial success.
This comes amid several changes to the Sundowns coaching staff, with Folz’s recruitment as an assistant coach raising eyebrows due to his less-than-stellar record at Marumo Gallants and AmaZulu.
Folz, a 34-year-old French coach, had a brief tenure at Marumo Gallants where he oversaw six matches, resulting in five draws and one loss. His time at AmaZulu saw him managing 19 games, achieving four wins, nine draws, and six losses.
Despite these modest records, Mngqithi remains optimistic about Folz’s potential impact.
The announcement of Folz’s appointment was met with scepticism from South African football fans, many of whom feared it might signal a downturn for the club.
“It’s just a shame that in our country because when you did not do well with a team, sometimes you have done well but the team decide to let go of you, people start to make their own judgments, Mngqithi said on 947.
“But if you look at what Fohloza did at Marumo. The players that he brought there, first he brought Sede Dion who is AmaZulu’s top player, who has done well in the country.
“He brought Toure Ismael who is now Stellenbosch FC’s top player, who has done well for Stellenbosch. He brought Lesiba Nku top player who is doing well even for us at Sundowns.
“And you just go back and look at the matches of Marumo during his time. You will realise the quality and the ability of this young man.
“I was fortunate, I even invited him to Joburg when he was working for AmaZulu because I just wanted to know what he has in his mind and get to understand his abilities.
“And I can tell South Africans that I have brought a very good coach next to me and even the ones that are talking negatively.
“One day when they get to hear him, they will understand that I do not bring people because they are cousins or my uncles.
“I have always brought serious coaches next to me. I know what I want from Romain Folz.
“And already he is beginning to give that and the perspective from the players has also changed completely because they also listen to these voices that sometimes are misleading them.
“If the boy (Folz) is recommended by Arsene Wenger then he is good enough because Arsene is not a pushover.
“And he was brought to FIFA by Arsene Wenger, I kept contact because I knew in my next job I’m going to work with him and I trust his ability.”
𝐂𝐎𝐀𝐂𝐇 𝐑𝐎𝐌𝐀𝐈𝐍 𝐂𝐀𝐌 📹
— Mamelodi Sundowns FC (@Masandawana) July 22, 2024
Here's an inside look at Coach Romains Folz doing some hands-on work with the team in Austria! 🗣
Full video on YouTube now! 📲 https://t.co/jIXZAusm6W#Sundowns pic.twitter.com/FKcZIqdbzm
