Why Mngqithi is not afraid of leaving Sundowns

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Manqoba Mngqithi has addressed the media, saying he is not afraid of going solo and leaving the club.

In a press briefing ahead of the MTN8 final on Saturday against Orlando Pirates, Mngqithi said he doesn’t care about what people say.

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This comes after another Sundowns coach Steve Komphela decided to leave the club just before the start of the current season.

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MNGQITHI NOT AFRAID TO GO SOLO, LEAVING SUNDOWNS

Komphela’s departure as part of the Sundowns’ technical team led to speculation regarding Mngqithi’s future.

Media reports linked him with a move to AmaZulu and Richards Bay while it was mentioned that Kaizer Chiefs were looking to lure him to Naturena.

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“Your question is full! But all I can say first, is we are living in a world where there is freedom of expression and everyone has the right to say what they want,” Mngqithi told the media per iDiski Times.

“Because of luck, we are also conveniently placed in positions where we purposefully forget what we like to forget and remember what we like to remember.

“If you remember very well, I was one of the youngest coaches in the league, and only one team at that time in KZN (in the DStv Premiership), it was Golden Arrows.

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“All the clubs were coached by more experienced coaches who thought they were better than me then, but they were relegated.

“But I was able to hold Golden Arrows right through until I left the club. So when I’m in this stage of my career people think I’m scared to leave, I’m in the comfort zone and all that, it is fine for someone who thinks what they think.”

SUNDOWNS COACH MNGQITHI ON GOING SOLO, TALKS FUTURE

The former Golden Arrows and Usuthu boss reflected on his stay with the Lamontville-based club.

He said it’s always important to have a thick skin as a coach and he speaks as he guided Arrows to MTN8 glory.

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“When you are a coach and you want to be successful as a coach, it is important to have thick skin. Because if you listen to what everybody else says about you, you might go off the rails.

“Because most of the time – maybe it is advice to you as well – most of the time popular decisions are the wrong decisions. When people say ‘do this’, you must sit back and think about what they want to see.

“At times what sounds so popular or interesting, it is so wrong. So to me as a human being, I use my brains, I don’t use my bushes and I’m sure it is one of my strengths as a human being.

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“I look at everything from all angles and make my decision when the time is right. When I make that decision (to leave Sundowns), I’ll not be expecting people to clap their hands because it will be my decision.”        

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