Mamelodi Sundowns’ Mngqithi Shares Sympathy with Axed Kaizer Chiefs Coach Gavin Hunt
- Mamelodi Sundowns coach Manqoba Mngqithi says it was sad to see his counterpart Gavin Hunt fired by Kaizer Chiefs
- The Sundowns mentor says Hunt has achieved a lot after leading Chiefs to the semi-finals of the CAF Champions League this season
- The Masandawana tactician also argues that local football bosses need to have patience when it comes to employing Mzansi coaches
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Mamelodi Sundowns coach Manqoba Mngqithi believes coach Gavin Hunt didn’t fail at Kaizer Chiefs. Mngqithi argues that it was unfortunate for his local counterpart to part ways with the Soweto giants.
The Masandawana boss says the former Bidvest Wits manager has enjoyed massive success at Naturena as he managed to lead the club to the semi-finals of the CAF Champions League.
Amakhosi have never qualified for the knockout stages of the continental tournament and the DStv Premiership winner has backed the former defender.
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Mngqithi addressed the media:
“All I want to say is Gavin Hunt achieved something that Chiefs have never achieved before and he is out of a job. It is a story about our football. We change because we are emotional at times. Gavin has won four trophies. He plays a certain type of football and he wins trophies with that type of football. Stick with it.
“But if suddenly you say 'no, we are not happy with the style of football', then why did you bring the coach in the first place? You could not change him from what he has been doing over the years and worse, he could not even sign the players he wants to play the type of football that he wants.”
With erstwhile Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter reportedly set to make his return to Amakhosi, the former school teacher says patience pays in football.
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Mngqithi added:
“Patience pays. Teams that are chasing coaches away are the ones who end up finding themselves having problems. Football is a team sport and it requires a little bit of the improvement of team dynamics and the development of those team dynamics.
“It is something that cannot happen over one, two months or three months. Any coach, even the one who is not competent, will do better when he is given a little bit of time. There is so much more you can benefit by giving coaches time and freedom to run the team.”
Chiefs parted ways with the four-time Premier Soccer League winner more than a week ago and he could be replaced by former Bafana Bafana coach, Baxter, as media reports suggest.
Hunt lands a new job
Meanwhile, Briefly News reported that ex-Chiefs coach Gavin Hunt has just landed a new job after being sacked by the Amakhosi side.
Hunt will form part of the team of experts to analyse, preview and review the upcoming 2020 EURO football tournament. The European football spectacle will be hosted in the Netherlands and will get underway from 11 June until 11 July.
According to a statement released by SuperSport TV, the former Wits and Moroka Swallows mentor will be one of the panellists.
Together with African greats such as Nigerian legend Austin Jay-Jay Okocha, Samuel Kuffour of Ghana and ex-Bafana star Benni McCarthy, Hunt’s tactical expertise will be vital for the sports broadcaster.
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Source: Briefly News