Manqoba Mngqithi has by no stretch of the imagination indicated to anybody willing to listen that he would be leaving multiple league champions Mamelodi Sundowns when his contract expires at the end of the season, but it has not stopped several local clubs from salivating at the prospect of luring the man who once masterminded the 6-0 massacre of Ajax Cape Town during the 2009 MTN8 final while at Golden Arrows.
And during his interaction with the media prior to the MTN8 final against Orlando Pirates, there appeared to have been subtle hints that contrary to popular belief, he was his own man and not afraid to make unpopular decisions.
Some interpreted his philosophical speech to imply that perhaps he was not afraid to leave his comfort zone at the Tshwane giants, who was demoted from co-coach to senior coach around this time last year.
"When I'm at this stage of my career and people think that I'm scared of leaving and I'm in a comfort zone and all that, it's fine for someone to think what they think. However, when you are a coach and you want to be successful, it's important to have a very thick skin because if you listen to what everybody is saying, you might go out of the race because most of the time, popular decision are wrong decisions," he told the media.
And therein lies the dilemma for one PSL side said to be courting the highly-rated mentor, Sekhukhune United, because it is believed that according to them, he is secretly challenging clubs "to come and get me", which is said to be frustrating the Malatji brothers as they do not want to antagonize their present coach, Brandon Truter by approaching Mngqithi.
At the same time, they are also mindful of the fact that he is still contracted and they would, by the same token, not like to get on the wrong side of Sundowns, even though the prospect of luring Mngqithi is quite appealing. Babina Noko may bide their time in their pursuit of the 52-year-old or simply look for another option, with it becoming increasingly clear that Truter is on borrowed time at the club. Watch this space.
