Former Mamelodi Sundowns coach, Manqoba Mngqithi, has expressed openness to joining Golden Arrows, a club he holds dear.

Mngqithi credits Arrows for providing him with a crucial opportunity when his career was at a crossroads. The club believed in his ability to lead the team, and the rewards were significant.

Appointed as Arrows coach in January 2007, Mngqithi inherited a team languishing at the bottom of the league. He quickly stabilized the team, securing a victory over Thanda Royal Zulu in his first match.

Under his guidance, Arrows won seven of the 14 matches he managed, including notable victories against Kaizer Chiefs and Bidvest Wits. The team’s strong finish with wins over Jomo Cosmos and Benoni Premier United ensured their safety to 12th in the table.

The following seasons saw continued improvement, with Arrows finishing ninth, and fifth in the league. However, In the 2009/10 season, as they had finished in the top eight the previous term, magic happened under Mngqithi with Arrows. They beat Ajax Cape Town 6-0 in the MTN8 final at Orlando Stadium, with a glitz of attack that left the Mother City club bamboozled by the stylish football Arrows displayed on the day.  

To this day, it is a biggest scoreline in the domestic cup final in the PSL.  

“I will always be open in assisting Arrows in my life because I still feel indebted to that club because that club made me the person that I’m,” said Mngqithi on MSW with Robert Marawa after he was fired by Mamelodi Sundowns this week. 

“They gave me an opportunity at a time when no team in South Africa could take that risk. When the team is number 16 on the log and they only have 12 points after 15 matches they say ‘We want you to become the coach, not even an interim coach, to become a head coach of the club because we believe he can save us.’ 

“That confidence is something that I will forever be indebted to because nobody would ever give away R15 million status (at the time) to a coach that has never coached in the PSL.  

“I have been an assistant coach for probably one and half years and they gave me an opportunity that for me I will always be indebted to. I will always want to help whenever that possibility comes but I will have to listen to the project that comes in front of me.”  

When asked about potential interest from Arrows, Mngqithi remained non-committal, stating, “I wouldn’t want to disclose what is happening now.”

Golden Arrows, currently sixth in the league, recently parted ways with co-coach Mabhuti Khenyeza due to frustrations over interference in his role.