Kaizer Chiefs are looking to lure Mamelodi Sundowns boss Manqoba Mngqithi to Naturena but it seems he will stay at Chloorkop. According to the latest information doing the rounds in Mzansi, Mngqithi is currently locked in talks with the reigning DStv Premiership champions. Amakhosi is looking for a new coach after parting ways with Molefi Ntseki late last year and now has Cavin Johnson as interim coach.
As things stand, Chiefs want Johnson to return to his role in the youth development structures next season and they are heavily linked with Mngqithi’s signature who is happy to stay at Sundowns – according to his agent.
Speaking to iDiski Times, Mike Makaab says they want to finalise Mngqithi’s future as soon as possible despite links with a move to the Soweto giants.
Will Chiefs Get Mngqithi from Sundowns?
The vacant coaching seat at Chiefs has left many publications speculating about the next coach while the likes of Pitso Mosimane and Nasreddine Nabi are also linked with the coaching role. However, with Makaab confirming talks with the African Football League champions, it seems Mngqithi will stay as he also wants to continue with Rulani Mokwena. Mngqithi initially arrived back in 2014 as the assistant to then-head coach Mosimane and served in the role until his exit in 2020, before he was appointed co-head coach.
But his long-term future at the club was thrown into doubt when he was demoted to first-team coach, which saw Mokwena elevated as the sole head coach in October 2023. However, the reported disharmony was quickly laid to rest with Sundowns going on to win the 2022/23 league title and now on course for a historic quadruple this season. Moreover, sources within Sundowns indicated to the football publication that there’s mutual happiness for Mngqithi to remain part of the technical team, with his contract set to expire in July.
Mngqithi’s Agent Confirms Talks with Sundowns
The seasoned agent, Makaab of ProSport said he hopes to finalise the contractual negotiations in the next couple of weeks. “Yes we’re in discussions with Mamelodi Sundowns,” said Makaab.
“I’m hoping that in a couple of weeks, a finality will happen, one way or another. I think for both parties, it is important the matter is brought a closure. He’s [happy to continue at Sundowns] very much so.”
Under Mokwena and Mngqithi, Masandawana are now chasing the DStv Premiership title as they are also in the semi-finals of the Nedbank Cup as well as the CAF Champions League.
After beating the University of Pretoria and drawing against Moroka Swallows, Sundowns will travel to Tunisia to face Esperance Sportive Tunis for the first leg of their semi-final clash in the CAF Champions League.
Meanwhile, the same publication published that the Glamour Boys will keep Johnson until the end of the campaign and will return to his post next season.
“Chiefs have struggled to find the right balance since the beginning of the season, and they find themselves sitting eighth on the league table, seven points behind third-placed Orlando Pirates,” reports iDiski Times.
“This publication has learnt from sources close to Naturena that Johnson will finish the current season as interim coach before returning to his original role ahead of the 2024/25 season. Having worked with youth before, Johnson will have a chance to continue doing so when he returns to the role he was originally appointed for.”
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