Statistics of Success: Achievements of Manqoba Mngqithi at Sundowns
Mamelodi Sundowns Shake Up Management Following a Bumpy Ride
The dismissal of Manqoba Mngqithi from Mamelodi Sundowns came as a surprise as the season was nearing its end. This decision echoed a similar move two years ago, when the coach trio was disbanded, leaving Rulani Mokwena as the sole head coach. This time, however, Mngqithi is leaving the club altogether, stepping down after leading the team for a short spell.
With 19 games played under his belt, Mngqithi had the least number of matches managed by a Sundowns coach since Ian Gorowa in 2011. Although he left Sundowns in a strong position, placed atop the table and boasting a decent win rate, recent defeats and underwhelming performances may have contributed to the decision.
Taste of Defeat
Perhaps the most crushing setback was the Carling Knockout Cup final loss to Magesi. Despite being the favorites to win, the team squandered their lead and handed the trophy to the underdogs. The double defeat to Stellenbosch in the MTN8 semi-finals also left a lasting impact, both results being rare in Sundowns history.
These outcomes seemingly put a strain on Mngqithi's tenure, however, statistics suggest there's more to the story.
By the Numbers
The league performances might have played a role in the decision-making process. Sundowns were leading the table, scoring the most goals (18) and having the best goal difference (+14), while conceding the second-fewest goals (4). These figures seem impressive, but a closer examination reveals a slightly different picture.
According to Expected Goals (xG), Sundowns have the fourth-best attack but the eighth-best defense. Last season, the team was dominating in both categories.
The Rolling Average xG chart underscores these findings. It provides a visual representation of the quality of chances created against those conceded—with green-shaded areas signaling positive periods and red for negative. Over the last two seasons, Sundowns have traded in the red on two occasions. One of those instances could be attributed to a drop in intensity after winning the title, while the other might have been a red flag in October 2024. Although there have been signs of improvement recently, it may have come too late.
Although the damaging Cup exits are obvious culprits, the league performances as highlighted by the rolling xG charts were equally concerning, hinting at a drop in standards.
As Mngqithi moves on, the focus shifts to rebuilding and improving the squad. With a new coach set to take the helm, Sundowns fans are eager to see what the future holds.
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Golden Arrows: A New Chapter Begins
Manqoba Mngqithi's journey as a coach did not end with his departure from Mamelodi Sundowns. In March 2025, he took on the role as head coach of Golden Arrows on a temporary contract[4]. During his time there, he focused on strengthening the team for the upcoming season by acquiring key players from relegated Royal AM[2].
Prior to joining Golden Arrows, Mngqithi highlighted the success of clubs like Orlando Pirates in the CAF Champions League as proof of South African teams' growing competitiveness in continental competitions[1][3][5].
[1] Wessels, A. (2025). Orlando Pirates delivers statement CAF Champions League semi-final win. Sport24. [2] Busani, C. (2025). Golden Arrows announce signing of Shadrack Kobedi. IOL. [3] Riaukutwa, T. (2025). Orlando Pirates reach CAF Champions League semi-finals after 19-year wait. The Citizen. [4] Pillay, N. (2025). Mngqithi appointed Golden Arrows coach as Kassim says goodbye. Time Live.[5] Chaytor, A. (2025). Orlando Pirates proving South African football can compete on the continent. News24.
- As Mamelodi Sundowns undergo restructuring, betting on the PSL becomes a hot topic, with many speculating about the team's future performance.
- Despite Manqoba Mngqithi's departure from Sundowns, his focus turns towards a new chapter as head coach of Golden Arrows, motivated by the success of other South African teams in sports-analysis, particularly Orlando Pirates in continental competitions.
- The football season took a turn for the worse for Mamelodi Sundowns when they suffered a crushing defeat in the Carling Knockout Cup final, handing the trophy to underdogs, Magesi.
- According to sports-analysis, Sundowns' league performances, while initially impressive, were displays of a drop in standards when compared to their rolling xG charts, which indicated a concerning trend.
- The double defeat to Stellenbosch in the MTN8 semi-finals left a lasting impact, serving as a possible catalyst for the dismissal of coach Manqoba Mngqithi from Mamelodi Sundowns.
- In an attempt to improve the squad, the upcoming coach of Sundowns will need to focus on rebuilding and acquiring key players, as demonstrated by Manqoba Mngqithi's temporary tenure at Golden Arrows following the signing of key players from relegated Royal AM.
