Only 10 teams have ever beaten Mamelodi Sundowns under co-coaches Manqoba Mngqithi and Rhulani Mokwena in their 100 matches in charge. Photo: Twitter @OptaJabu
Trouble in paradise? Sundowns coaching changes raise eyebrows!
Sundowns have made changes to their coaching department following their 3-0 defeat at home to Pirates in the MTN8 semi-finals on Saturday.
Only 10 teams have ever beaten Mamelodi Sundowns under co-coaches Manqoba Mngqithi and Rhulani Mokwena in their 100 matches in charge. Photo: Twitter @OptaJabu
Mamelodi Sundowns have made changes to their coaching department following their 3-0 defeat at home to Orlando Pirates in the MTN8 semi-finals on Saturday.
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Manqoba Mngqithi has been demoted to the position of Senior Coach as reported by The South African while Steve Komphela has been promoted to the role of First Team with Rhulani Mokwena as the Head Coach.
The trio will still work together like before but the difference is that Mokwena will make his own decisions after inputs from both Mngqithi and Komphela.
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What this means is that Mokwena will now handle pre-match and post-match interviews on his own without being assisted by anyone from the technical team.
Furthermore, individual accolades such as Coach of the Month and Coach of the Season will be given to Mokwena alone should he win any at Sundowns.
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THERE SEEMS TO BE TROUBLE AT SUNDOWNS
Mamelodi Sundowns are the most resourceful team in South Africa as they are able to get any player they want from anywhere in the world.
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However, harmony is something that appears to be lacking in their coaching department with the three coaches hardly seen strategising together on matchdays.
Mokwena usually sits on a cooler box meters away from the rest of his colleagues and players, while Mngqithi is often seen sitting close to goalkeeper coach Wendell Robinson.
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There were reports of ructions in the Sundowns technical team in the past, and Mokwena did confirm them but also downplayed the impact it had on the team.
But with two losses in the league already this season coupled with the heavy loss to Pirates in the MTN8 semi-finals, Sundowns look like a team that can easily be beaten going forward.
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And according to Sundowns’ statement, that is very poor hence the decision to demote Mngqithi and let Mokwena take over as head coach.
The absence of Sundowns leading goalscorer Peter Shalulile in the last four matches has also raised eyebrows with both coaches revealing that he has a muscular complication.
But all in all, the three coaches seem to be pulling in different directions, and that alone is impacting on the team’s performance.
