Mngqithi on what will influence decision he makes about his future

While responding to talks about him being afraid of leaving Mamelodi Sundowns’ comfort zone, Manqoba Mngqithi has revealed factors that will influence a decision he makes about his future.

Mngqithi has been a Sundowns servant since 2014. When he joined the club, he served as an assistant coach to Pitso Mosimane along with Rulani Mokwena until 2020 as ‘Jingles’ left for Al Ahly’s greener pastures.

Thereafter,the former Golden Arrows mentor was appointed as a co-coach with Mokwena. However, last season, Mngqithi was demoted to senior coach with Mokwena taking over as sole head coach.

This cast doubts on his future with the club but he stayed put and it’s been over a year since he was stripped of his co-coach role. Meanwhile, last season’s reports suggested he would be heading to Kaizer Chiefs but Masandawana activated his one-year extension.

Many have called on the Umzikhulu-born tactician to seek a new challenge elsewhere, saying he’s afraid of change. He insisted he was not scared of facing the new task as he had proven himself at Golden Arrows before.

Mngqithi says he wouldn’t be driven by people into making wrong “moves”. He added he won’t make decisions out of his emotions.

MANQOBA MNGQITHI SAYS HE WON’T LISTEN TO WHAT PEOPLE SAY

“The first thing I can say, we are in a country where there’s a freedom of expression,” said Mngqithi as translated from IsiZulu.

“And, fortunately, we are also conveniently placed in positions where we can also forget what we can forget and recall what we can recall.

“I remember very well I have been one of the youngest coaches in the league. And there was only one team in KZN, Golden Arrows.

“All clubs had coaches who were more experienced and who thought were better than me at the time but [some] were relegated. But I was able to hold Golden Arrows right through up until I left without any trap of relegation. 

“When I’m at this stage of my career and people think I’m afraid of leaving my comfort zone. It’s right for people to think what they think.

“When you’re a coach and you want to be successful as a coach. It’s important to have a very thick skin.

“Because if you listen to what everybody else says about you, you might go out of the race. Most of the time, maybe it’s advice to you as well, popular decisions are the wrong decisions.

‘WHAT SOUNDS POPULAR IS SO WRONG’

“When people say, ‘do this’, you must sit back a bit and look at what they want to achieve with that. Because, at times, what sounds so popular and interesting is so wrong.

“So, to me, as a human being, I use my brains, I don’t use my emotions. It’s one of the strengths I have as a human being, I’m not emotional.

“I look at everything and all angles and make my decision when the time is right. And when I make that decision, I will not be expecting people to clap hands because it will be my decision.”

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