Former Mamelodi Sundowns coach Manqoba Mngqithi has recalled how he had talks with Kaizer Chiefs before joining Masandawana and explained why he joined the Brazilians instead.
The 53-year-old was sacked from Sundowns after nearly 11 years of service in different coaching roles and capacities, with the club appointing Miguel Cardoso earlier in the week.
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However, before he joined Pitso Mosimane as assistant in February 2014, he also had an offer from Kaizer Chiefs.
“I had an approach from Chiefs prior to Sundowns and I did my presentation at Chiefs and all that, and then suddenly Sundowns came when there was a slight delay at Chiefs,” he recalled talking to Robert Marawa on Radio947.
“When I took that opportunity, I did not still want to check with Chiefs ‘ey, what is happening with you’, because I felt the project – Chiefs was winning, Chiefs was okay, but I felt it would be nice to be part of this environment and try to [rebuild].”
Mngqithi went on to explain why he opted for Sundowns over Chiefs at the time, after receiving an offer from Masandawana while he had waited to hear from Amakhosi.
“Sundowns picked me up when I was not working, I was not employed when Sundowns gave me that opportunity,” he continued.
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“I happened to get into a club when I had not won anything in seven years and then everything changed for the better.
“My mind was it would be nice to be among the people to bring this team back to its former glory and that’s what we did.
“At the time it looked defunct from the outside, that for seven years this club has not won anything but… part of me had this thing that you know we will end up losing good people in football, because I felt the president had invested a lot of money in Sundowns.
“I want to be part of that team because I could see the investment was good, maybe with a little of my own influence I can help.
“Fortunately, with God’s will, everything happened, and we achieved so much. Thanks to the club and thanks to coach Pitso, to everybody that was within the club at the time.”
