Mamelodi Sundowns co-coach, Manqoba Mngqithi has explained the reason why he joined the club. He also went on to highlight his long-term plans as a coach.
Sundowns’ success cannot be told without Mnqqithi being a part of it. The club dominated South African football while he was assistant coach to Pitso Mosimane and he now wants to write his own story and create his own history with the club, alongside coach Rulani Mokwena and coach Steve Komphela.
Speaking to the media recently, Mngqithi expressed his excitement in seeing KZN teams flourish and said he would eventually return to his home province. The experience gained at Sundowns he said, would be essential to winning a league title with a KZN team. Amazulu for instance, are doing well this season and who knows if they can go on to be title winners within the next few years.
“You cannot believe how impressed I am to see KZN teams doing well,” Mngqithi said.
“Because the main reason I went to Mamelodi Sundowns was to learn how to win championships, but my main goal in life is not only to be appreciated for the success I get with Sundowns, but to one day go to KZN and coach a smaller team and find solutions to win the league with them.
“That would be a sweet one for me because it will not be with too many resources. We got everything we need. I would love the situation where Golden Arrows, AmaZulu FC and Maritzburg United wins the league.”
He was particular about what would make KZN sides reach the level of Gauteng teams by challenging for the league title every season. Without mincing words, Mngqithi opined that travel was a major factor hindering KZN teams from reaching the desired level.
“The other route towards that direction is for KZN to push for two or three more teams to get promotion from GladAfrica Championship because they will get to play more games at home.
“We only go to Limpopo and Cape Town as long distance I won’t count Bloemfontein and Durban because its not that far, so Gauteng is less travel for league games.
“So if KZN can have more teams and they get to travel less, they stand a good chance to win the league because if teams are five that means a dominant team in the province can get at least 20 points, go out to other provinces for another 20 and their home games from other opponents, at least another 20 to 15 points, a real chance to challenge,” he added.