Mamelodi Sundowns shocked South African football enthusiasts with an unexpected announcement on Tuesday: the swift appointment of Miguel Cardoso as their new head coach.

The news reverberated across the sports community, with even former head coach Manqoba Mngqithi seemingly caught off guard.

A Season of High Hopes Cut Short

Mngqithi, a seasoned figure in the Sundowns coaching team, began this season at the helm following the dismissal of Rulani Mokwena.

It marked his second tenure as head coach during his 12-year association with the club.

However, what seemed like a promising return was abruptly curtailed this week when the club decided to part ways with him.

Mngqithi’s Reaction to the Shocking News

Speaking on Marawa Sports Worldwide, Mngqithi disclosed that he had little time to prepare for the news of his departure.

In fact, he only became aware of the possibility of a major announcement through a cryptic message just before meeting with the club’s leadership.

“I would be lying if I said I knew [that I was leaving the club]; I just got a message from someone when I was going into a meeting yesterday [Tuesday].

Somebody hinted that there was going to be an announcement,” Mngqithi explained.

He recounted that the club had a day off when the meeting was called, where the situation was finally clarified.

No Grudges Despite the Sudden Exit

Despite the abrupt nature of his departure, Mngqithi expressed no bitterness towards the club.

He acknowledged that such transitions are part and parcel of football.

“I cannot fault anyone for that because probably when I got the job, someone, somewhere, was still the coach, and negotiations were going on behind the scenes.

That’s the name of the game. It’s normal in football,” he added.

What Lies Ahead for Mngqithi?

While the dust settles on this unexpected turn of events, the focus now shifts to what’s next for both Mngqithi and Sundowns under Cardoso’s leadership.

For Mngqithi, his extensive experience and achievements in football suggest that he won’t be on the sidelines for long.

Meanwhile, all eyes will be on Cardoso to see how he steers one of South Africa’s most iconic clubs into a new chapter.

This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!

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