[ad_1]
The two local tacticians will be in charge of Masandawana in the new 2020/21 campaign
Mamelodi Sundowns has officially appointed Manqoba Mngqithi and Rhulani Mokwena as coaches.
The duo have been promoted following the recent departure of Pitso Mosimane, who has taken over the reins of Egyptian powerhouse Al Ahly this week.
Mokwena and Mngqithi served as Mosimane’s assistants when Masandawana won the Premier Soccer League title and the Nedbank Cup in the 2019/20 season.
The Tshwane giants issued the following statement on Sunday afternoon:
“Mamelodi Sundowns today announced the appointment of Manqoba Mngqithi and Rhulani Mokwena as head coaches with Manqoba Mngqithi’s opinion prevailing when there is no consensus,” a club statement read.
Sundowns president Patrice Motsepe explained why the club appointed the two local tacticians.
“Manqoba and Rhulani have been with Mamelodi Sundowns for many years and were part of the Technical Team that was crowned the African Champion in 2016 and also won the Premier Soccer League and other titles in South Africa,” Motsepe said.
“The Mamelodi Sundowns board of directors was particularly interested in appointing South African coaches and expressing their commitment and confidence in the talent and skill of our local coaches,” he added. “Manqoba, Rhulani and the Sundowns technical team will focus on defending PSL and the other titles we won during our historic 50th anniversary.
They will also move forward and continue with the goal we set for ourselves in 2004, which is to make Mamelodi Sundowns one of the best clubs on the African continent ”.
Mngqithi is a seasoned coach who took over for Lamontville Golden Arrows, AmaZulu FC and Chippa United, before joining the Sundowns as Mosimane’s assistant in 2013.
The 49-year-old led Arrows to his first and only major trophy which is MTN8 in 2009 when Abafana Bes’thende defeated Ajax Cape Town in the final, while Mokwena returned to Sundowns to serve under Mosimane in July 2020 for second time. after his spells with the Orlando Pirates and Chippa United, where he served as head coach.
This is not the first time Masandawana has appointed coaches, as Miguel Gamondi and Neil Tovey served in this role in the 2005/06 season.
They oversaw the Sundowns’ victory at PSL when the team won the league title in the same campaign.
