Mamelodi Sundowns supporters cheer for their team during a league game at Loftus Versfeld FILE - Mamelodi Sundowns supporters cheer for their team during a league game at Loftus Versfeld. Photo: Oupa Mokoena/Independent Newspapers
According to reports, there could be trouble brewing at Mamelodi Sundowns.
The champions have had a difficult start to the season following Manqoba Mngqithi’s promotion to the head coach position after Rulani Mokwena’s sudden departure.
Soccer Laduma are reporting that the club’s sporting director, Fleming Berg, has demanded the players show Mngqithi some respect after a number of them voiced their displeasure at Mokwena’s firing.
The publication quotes a source, saying that the players have been warned by Berg that if they do not show Mngqithi respect, there will be dire consequences.
“It is believes that everyone in the team has been urged to toe the line or face potential repercussions,” the source is quoted.
Mngqithi and his technical staff, the report continues, have been given free reign to make changes to the team and have the full support of the club’s management.
Mokwena, a popular figure amongst the squad, was fired by the club after guiding the club to a seventh straight league title. According to his uncle Jomo Sono, the 37-year-old Mokwena was sacked after butting heads with Berg over the club’s transfer policy and the coach’s insistence at signing Thembinkosi Lorch.
“I think the big chief (Berg) did not want Lorch because he felt Lorch was overage and you can’t invest so much money in a player who is over 30,” Sono said two months ago.
While the club made a winning start to their league campaign, they were dumped out of the MTN8 by Stellenbosch FC, who beat the Brazilians in both legs of their semi-final clash.
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