Manqoba Mngqithi Reveals How He Discovered His Imminent Departure from Mamelodi Sundowns Before the Official Announcement in South Africa

Manqoba Mngqithi had an inkling that his time with Mamelodi Sundowns was nearing its end, long before he received the official news.

While heading into a meeting with the club’s top officials on Tuesday, Mngqithi got an SMS that would signal the end of his tenure as the team’s head coach.

The Message That Changed Everything

As Mngqithi made his way to the meeting, a message from an unknown source arrived, asking if the rumors about an upcoming announcement from Sundowns were true.

It was in that moment that Mngqithi realized what the meeting was likely about.

The club had already made its decision, and he was about to hear the official news.

“I would be lying if I said I didn’t know,” Mngqithi shared in an interview with Robert Marawa on Radio 947.

“Someone sent me a message while I was heading into the meeting with the leadership of the club. They hinted there would be an announcement, and that’s when I started to get an idea of what was coming.”

Reflecting on His Time with Sundowns

Mngqithi’s stint as head coach lasted through 19 matches, where he secured 13 wins, 4 losses, and 2 draws.

Despite the performance, the end of his tenure seemed inevitable in his eyes, a part of the natural ebb and flow of football management.

“I can’t blame anyone for what happened,” Mngqithi continued.

“When I took on the role, someone else might have been in negotiations behind the scenes. That’s just how the game works—being proactive to avoid any gaps is a part of the business.”

A Gracious Perspective on Football’s Realities

Mngqithi spoke with understanding about the situation, acknowledging that such moves are common in football.

“I can’t speak ill of them; it’s part of the game,” he said.

“It’s normal in football, and that’s how things go.”

As for what lies ahead, Mngqithi remains optimistic, taking the news in stride as part of the unpredictable nature of the sport.