Mamelodi Sundowns, despite sitting atop the Betway Premiership, have made the surprising decision to part ways with their head coach, Manqoba Mngqithi. This marks the second managerial change for the Brazilians this season, following the earlier dismissal of Rulani Mokwena.
Mngqithi's tenure, which began only six months ago in July, has ended abruptly, with the club citing a combination of factors contributing to the decision.
The club chairman, Thlopie Motsepe, announced the news to the media, expressing gratitude for Mngqithi's and assistant coach Wendell Robinson's contributions.
"Manqoba Mngqithi and Wendell Robinson will forever remain part of the Mamelodi Sundowns Family," Motsepe stated.
He also thanked Romain Folz, a recent addition to the coaching staff. The club's statement highlighted the appointment of Miguel De Azevedo Cardoso as the new head coach, effective immediately. Cardoso, formerly of Espérance Sportive de Tunis, brings a wealth of experience from coaching stints in Portugal, Spain, France, Greece, and Ukraine, having managed top clubs like Porto, Braga, Deportivo La Coruña, Celta Vigo, AEK Athens, Nantes, and Shakhtar Donetsk. He reached the finals of the 2023/24 CAF Champions League with Espérance. He will be joined by three assistants: Fabio Fernandes, Pedro Azevedo, and João Araújo. Steve Komphela and Kennedy Mweene will remain as part of the club's technical team.
"The players will meet the recently appointed coaches when they return to training on Wednesday," Thlopie added.
While Sundowns currently lead the Betway Premiership, their performance this season has fallen short of expectations in other competitions, leading to Mngqithi's dismissal. The club's struggles provide a clear indication of the reasons behind the decision.
Firstly, the team’s cup run ended in disappointment. Under Mngqithi's leadership, Sundowns reached the Carling Knockout Cup final, only to suffer a 2-1 defeat against the newly promoted Magesi FC. Prior to this setback, they were eliminated from the MTN8 semi-finals by Stellenbosch FC. These two cup defeats placed considerable pressure on the coach.
Secondly, Sundowns have had a poor start to their CAF Champions League campaign. After two group-stage matches, they are yet to secure a victory, drawing against both Maniema Union and AS FAR. These results have significantly hampered their chances of progressing to the knockout stages and achieving their goal of winning a second CAF Champions League star.
Finally, reports of a fallout between Mngqithi and key players, Teboho Mokoena and Khuliso Mudau, contributed to his downfall. The dispute reportedly led to both players missing approximately six matches. While Mngqithi denied a significant rift, stating he was simply managing his squad, the decision to bench these key players in crucial games ultimately proved detrimental to the team's performance and contributed to his dismissal. The 52-year-old coach's inability to resolve these issues and improve the team's overall performance ultimately cost him his job.
The new coaching team faces a demanding schedule, with Sundowns set to compete in the Fifa Club World Cup Group F alongside Borussia Dortmund (Germany), Fluminense (Brazil), and Ulsan Hyundai (South Korea). The appointment of Cardoso represents a significant shift in strategy for Sundowns, as they look to revitalise their season and compete effectively on all fronts.
