Thlopie Motsepe explains decision to sack Manqoba Mngqithi

Despite Sundowns sitting top of the Betway Premiership, the fact that they missed out on the MTN8 and Carling Knockout were indications to the club's management to make changes to the technical team.

READ: Miguel Cardoso appointed Mamelodi Sundowns coach

Motsepe explained the sacking, with goalkeeper coach Wendell Robinson and recently appointed assistant coach Romain Folz also departing alongside Mngqithi.

"Mamelodi Sundowns Football Club, for the longest time, has been a team that has based itself on playing attractive, entertaining, and successful football – it's the reason why we wear the colours that we wear, and why we have earned the nickname 'Bafana Ba Style,'" noted Motsepe.

"But alongside that identity of football is a mentality that the club has cultivated across the years and previous seasons, which is based on our motto to always strive to be the best, set high targets for ourselves, and always strive to achieve as an ambitious an aspirational football club.

"In recent months, our team has struggled to match that type of ambition and meet the high standards we've set for ourselves, so we share that the board and management have decided to implement a restructuring and change in coaching department.

"This was not an easy decision. Coach Manqoba Mngqithi and Coach Wendell Robinson were two coaches that have been with the football club over 22 years combined, and were with the club through it's most historic and successful periods, and were incredible servants. But we needed to go another direction."

Upon introducing Cardoso, Motsepe noted that Steve Komphela and long-serving former player Kennedy Mweene will continue in the technical team as assistant coach and goalkeeper coach respectively.

"Mr Miguel Cardoso is a man who we believe has the right type of personality to lead a club like Mamelodi Sundowns, he has the ability and the desire to take us to the highest levels, and succeed as a football club," he added.

"We [make these changes] knowing that, as much as we're moving forward, as a football club we have a commitment to developing African and South African coaches and players.

"So, although we do this change and restructuring in leadership, we will be holding onto Coach Steve Komphela and Coach Kennedy Mweene, who will serve as part of this new technical team."