On face value, it appears as though there is a lot of tension bubbling under the surface at Mamelodi Sundowns, and if anything – Manqoba Mngqithi’s latest address to the media is suggestive that matters at the club might have reached a head.
Mngqithi spoke after Sundowns chiselled out an impressive 2-0 win over crosstown foes SuperSport United in the Tshwane Derby on Tuesday night.
The Masandawana starting line-up saw the exclusion of Bafana Bafana trio Aubrey Modiba, Khuliso Mudau and vice-captain Teboho Mokoena as Mngqithi reduced Mudau and Mokoena to spectators.
This comes after speculation that the trio might be feeling disgruntled after the departure of Rhulani Mokwena, who was known to have formed a close relationship with Sundowns players.
In a no-holds-barred type of rhetoric, Mngqithi hinted that he will not tolerate any sulkers, and will take stern decisions if need be.
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"I am a big boy, I have been in football for more than 20 years now and I know what is expected of me and I know that sometimes I will be able to keep the job for long and maybe if I don't do well, I know what is most likely to happen to me."
“One thing you must know is that I am very capable of taking decisive decisions – that’s one thing I am good at. If you can check some of the players who were respected in my previous clubs, when I say ‘I no longer feel you are helping the club’, I take the decision and I move. That helps me a lot,” said Mngqithi.
“One thing is that I am a very good human being. I don’t hold grudges. When you are ready to perform and give the team what it needs, I will always embrace you because I must be a father to these kids.
“They are looking up to their leader to make sure he is also fair to them. Just like in any other family, there will be good moments and there will be punishments, rewards, successes and failures. It is a story of life.
Sundowns have now seemingly turned the corner after a snail start to the 2024/25 season where Downs needed an own goal to get past Polokwane City in the MTN8 before succumbing to Stellenbosch over two legs in the MTN8 semi-final.
Subsequently, the Brazilians received a lot of criticism, particularly Mngqithi as the man in charge.
The former Golden Arrows did away with his predecessor’s philosophy and is crafting a new layer of the famous piano and shoe-shine brand of football. Under Mngqithi, Masandawana have netted six goals in five games, while letting in two.
Mngqithi told everyone who doubted his capabilities to coach Sundowns they were being “malicious” and has reiterated that in sterner words.
“In life, it is important to accept that you have to face the realities, and the good thing is that I have a very high self-esteem. I am very confident in my ability and I know what I am capable of.
“It is not what an opinionated person says that finds me. Other people cannot manage their own lives, but they’ve got big opinions about what you are competent in.
“If you listen to everybody you end up losing your mind. It is always important to trust my gut feeling and trust my competency and my abilities as a human being to know that sometimes I can do so well but maybe luck might not be on my side and circumstances might not favour me.”
“I was once the youngest coach in the league, and I was coaching a team that was the only one in the PSL from the province of KZN at that time. As the youngest coach, I had to pull through, and I pulled through. After so many years, I cannot be fazed by opinions and issues, and all that.
“I trust my ability and I trust the people I work with. I trust the players and I trust my leadership and I also trust that the group understands what we are trying to do and we are clear in our minds that it is going to happen.”
"I am helped by the fact that I am not on social media, so I don't listen to all the rubbish that people will say and that helps because sometimes you can be emotional from just the pictures people send and talk rubbish."
Mngqithi is Sundowns’ third head coach in a dozen years, following in the footsteps of Pitso Mosimane and Mokwena. Both his predecessors left an indelible mark at the club, with Mosimane winning the Caf Champions League in 2016 paired with five league crowns.
Mokwena, meanwhile, led the club to their most successful league season when Downs collected a record-extending 73 points. Mngqithi knows of the monumental task lying ahead of him.
With a squad of about 40 players and an expansive technical team – Mngqithi counts on everyone to pull their weight. And those who don’t will have to observe from a distance, the Downs, mentor suggests.
“Sundowns is a very big club, not just to me. Even the president (Patrice Motsepe) himself always says Sundowns is bigger than him… the person who pays our bills. Who are we to think if I was to be out, this club would not continue? It goes the same way for the players, coaches and everyone.
“This club will win with or without me. With or without any player because it is a big club. It has two or three players per position, multiple coaches and it has so many things that will always make it invincible.
“It is an institution that one should be proud to work for. It really embraces its employees and gives support that is needed to everyone.
“You cannot complain at Sundowns and say they did not give me this or that – they give you everything you want as a coach and you are expected to deliver.
“If I could do with no resources – others would say limited resources. If I am in an environment with so much resources, I’ve got no excuse.
