Mamelodi Sundowns Fires Coach Manqoba Mngqithi And His Assistants

Mamelodi Sundowns, has dismissed their head coach along with his two assistants. Coach Manqoba Mngqithi and his assistants faced challenges early in the season as Sundowns struggled, losing three significant trophies this year, beginning with the Nedbank Cup, followed by the MTN8 Cup and most recently the Carling Knockout Cup. They also kicked off their Total Energies CAF Champions League group stage journey with two draws, facing Maniema Union (0-0, at home) and AS FAR (1-1, away). They are in action again on Sunday, 15 December 2024 when they face Raja Casablanca at home-Loftus Versveld.

Sundowns hired Portuguese coach Miguel Cardoso, who previously managed Espérance Sportive de Tunis, to take over for Mngqithi. He was also with Rio Ave in Portugal, the French club Nantes, Celta Vigo in Spain, and the Greek Super League side AEK Athens. Roman Folz and Wendell Robinson were released together with Manqoba.

Cardoso joins Sundowns with three of his assistants namely, Fabio Fernandes, Pedro Azevedo and João Araújo.

“It is a big privilege and I am happy to be here. This is a club with big heritage. I’m entering a club with a huge identity. I will do my best to make the people happy and represent them in the best way,” Cardoso told reporters on Tuesday.  

“I am a simple man, but I’m demanding. I want to win always. I want to win trophies, I want to contribute to the heritage (of the club). I want to be remembered among the good coaches from the club when I leave like Pitso Mosimane, Rulani, Steve Komphela and Manqoba.”

Here is what Sundowns Chairman Tlhopie Motsepe said regarding the club’s choice to substitute Manqoba Mngqithi with Miguel Cardoso. “We strive to be the best and we have set high targets for ourselves… now, in recent months, our team has struggled to match that type of ambition and has struggled to meet the high standards that we have set for ourselves,” said Tlhopie.

Here is the Chairman of Sundowns, Tlhopie Motsepe, with his recently appointed coach Miguel Cardoso during the press conference: