Mngqithi plays down exit talks

Mamelodi Sundowns senior coach Manqoba Mngqithi has played down the speculation linking him with an exit from the club following the reports that he is not pleased with his new role, which has been dubbed as a demotion.

As reported, both AmaZulu FC and Royal AM have been linked to the highly respected mentor and while indications are that both clubs have sounded the coach out, Mngqithi has indicated that he intends on staying at Chloorkop.

Even well-travelled former PSL coach Walter Rautmann was quoted in the media urging Mngqithi to seriously consider resigning and taking up another post elsewhere, but the soft-spoken Mnqithi has, for the first time, opened up about his decision to continue working at the Tshwane giants despite the latest developments.

“I’m happy at Sundowns and will continue to assist the club in its ambitions to achieve more,” said Mngqithi, whose contract will be expiring at the end of this season.

“It is totally untrue that I want to leave the club. I am very much part of the future and whatever has been in the public space is not true at all,” said the former Maritzburg United and Golden Arrows coach.

Mngqithi formed part of the traveling trio of coaches, dubbed “Shadrack, Meshack and Abednego””, who were all in Qatar to watch, analyse and study modern methods at the FIFA World Cup recently, where they attended four matches a day in the Gulf State.

Sundowns resume their attempts to retain the championship with a crucial tie against Orlando Pirates at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on December 30.