The future of Mamelodi Sundowns senior coach Manqoba Mngqithi will remain a hot topic going into the new year.
Mngqithi has a contract at Sundowns that expires at the end of the season and his future has come under increasing scrutiny, particularly after the restructuring of the technical team, where he was demoted.
Soccer Laduma previously reported that Mngqithi was not happy with his new role at the Brazilians and was open to exploring options elsewhere.
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Subsequently, the Siya crew revealed that AmaZulu and Royal AM had sounded out the former Golden Arrows coach, although the talks were not formal and that was before the technical team changes at the Tshwane giants.
For the first time since the speculation of his potential exit from the Masandawana emerged, Mngqithi, as reported in edition 1304 of the publication, has broken his silence.
"I'm happy at Sundowns and will continue to assist the club in it's ambitions to achieve more," said the well-respected coach.
"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."
However, Mngqithi's future could now be on the hands of Masandawana head coach Rulani Mokwena.
The Siya crew has previously indicated that Sundowns, with Sporting Director Flemming Berg, who came out to give clarity and reassurance after the technical team shake-up, in the forefront, have initiated talks to negotiate a new contract with Mokwena under the new conditions.
The young tactician's contract at Sundowns is set to expire next season after he signed a four-year deal in 2020.
The Siya crew has been led to believe that Mokwena has the support of Berg and as the sole head coach, the 35-year old could be given the option of choosing his own backroom staff, in his new contract negotiations, going forward.
That could potentially be a frightening prospect for Mngqithi after the two coaches had a fallout early last season, with Mokwena confirming the story brought to light exclusively by Soccer Laduma.
According to Siya sources, the tension between the three coaches, including Steve Komphela, had been going on even during the course of the current campaign and from that background, the technical team changes were not a complete surprise.
The Brazilians Chairman Tlhopie Motsepe, in his latest letter on Sundowns Magazine hinted that the club may have a different approach going forward following the restructuring of the technical team.
"The club was faced with a difficult decision, to make a change immediately, or hope that eventually the team would click into gear," Motsepe said.
"There is a quote that says "To Change is difficult; but to not change is fatal."
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