Mamelodi Sundowns assistant coach Manqoba Mngqithi is in pole position to take over the hot seat amid reports that the club is likely to part ways with head coach Rulani Mokwena.
SABC Sport reported on Tuesday that Mokwena and sporting director Flemming Berg are at loggerheads over various issues that have strained their working relationship.
One of the issues that has led to the breakdown includes the disagreement between the two parties on players’ signings and outgoings.
Thembinkosi Lorch signing
“What is happening now between Rulani and the sporting director has been looming,” said a source close to the situation.
“The tension got worse when he [Mokwena] pushed for the signing of Thembinkosi Lorch in January. The sporting director was not in favour of the decision, but because Rulani pushed so hard, it had to happen.
“Rulani also did not want [Bongani] Zungu to leave, but the sporting director did not see the need to have him around for another season.”
In June, Mokwena expressed a desire to have Zungu at Sundowns for at least another season during a radio interview with Power FM.
“So now the obvious replacement is coach Manqoba; he has been at the club for a while now, and he will oversee the coaching duties until the club finds a replacement for Rulani,” the informant added.
Back-to-back league titles
Mokwena is also said to have not shown up for the club’s preparation for pre-season at the University of Pretoria’s high performance centre, where the players were undergoing their medicals.
Since taking over the sole head coach role in 2022, Mokwena has won back-to-back DStv Premiership League titles and the inaugural lucrative African Football League last season.
However, during his stint, the 37-year-old failed to win the MTN8, the Carling Knockout, the Nedbank Cup, or the ultimate prize, the CAF Champions League.
Meanwhile, Sundowns officially confirmed the departure of Gaston Sirino, Brian Onyango, Thabiso Kutumela, and Zungu on Monday.
- This is a developing story …
