Manqoba Mngqithi’s agent, Mike Makaab says that his client’s contract ends at the end of the current season.
Speaking on Gagasi FM with Simtho Dladla about the technical team reshuffling at Mamelodi Sundowns, and specifically about the demotion of Mngqithi to a “senior coach” role.
” I was never spoken to by the club, in actual fact the first I heard of it was when Manqoba phoned me,” Makaab told Gagasi FM host Simtho Dladla.
“To tell me that I mustn’t get a surprise, this is what is gonna be announced, and for me that’s a little bit disappointing to say the least. But that’s the way football is, and we have to respect decisions that are made. For me I’m not gonna comment on it, because it’s a pretty sensitive issue.
“In life there are those who stand at the forefront when things are going well, and there are those who sit in the background when things are going poorly. I can only say one thing about Manqoba, he is constant, when the team is doing well he is there for everybody to see, when the team is doing poorly, he’s there for everyone to see and to engage. It’s gonna be interesting to see how the new Head Coach deals with the pressure at Mamelodi Sundowns.
According to Makaab, after the MTN 8 semi-final 3-0 defeat to a plan mastered by Jose Riveiro’s Orlando Pirates, a meeting was called.
“Apparently they were called into a meeting, it was done very amicably. Manqoba is not upset at all, and I mean that, I had a long discussion with him,’ continued Mike Makaab.
“As you know I’m away at the office at the moment. He called me and I returned his call today. We had a long discussion, his a very sensible person. He accepts that the team hasn’t been doing well, and he supports any decision that management has taken.
“Manqoba is a mature person, emotionally very stable. So whilst it might be disappointing, one thing I can assure you that the club will get its full support from Manqoba.”
The timing of the role reversal comes at a time when Manqoba Mngqithi’s contract is up at the end of the season. Will this be the end of the association between Makaab’s client and Masandawana ? Asked when coach Manqoba’s contract expires, Makaaab responded “His contract ends at the end of the season”.
Expect a lot of potential suitors for a man of his experience in the next few months!
