Former Sundowns Coach Sacked Abroad Despite Winning 10 of 13 Games

South African football had a weekend of mixed fortunes abroad. Relebohile Mofokeng shone in Belgium, while coach Manqoba Mngqithi lost his job at Tanzanian club Young Africans SC.

Mofokeng, who used to play for Orlando Pirates, was again among the best performers for Royale Union Saint-Gilloise. On Sunday, the club came from two goals down to beat Cercle Brugge 5-2 in the Belgian Pro League. Mofokeng scored in the 80th minute and then set up the fifth goal late in the game. He has now scored five goals and made three assists in 14 appearances in all competitions this season. The win also helped Union stay near the top of the league table.

There was also a South African meeting in Major League Soccer in the United States. Bongokuhle Hlongwane of Minnesota United and Lyle Foster of Houston Dynamo faced each other, and the match ended in a goalless draw. Hlongwane played the full game, while Foster was taken off in the second half.

The news was less pleasant for Mngqithi. Young Africans dismissed him after a 0-0 draw against TRA United, a result that left the club five points behind league leaders Simba SC. During his short time in charge, he guided the team into the group stage of the CAF Champions League and won the Tanzanian Community Shield. The former Mamelodi Sundowns coach reportedly took charge of 13 matches, with 10 wins, two draws and one defeat. That defeat came in the derby against Simba, and together with the draw against TRA United, it appears to have cost him his job.

Rulani Mokwena, on the other hand, continues to do well at Egyptian side Pyramids FC. He led the club into the group stage of the CAF Champions League after a 5-0 aggregate win over El Merriekh Bentiu.

The weekend showed how quickly things can change in football. Mofokeng and Mokwena are raising South Africa’s profile in Europe and Egypt, while Mngqithi’s exit is a reminder that good results do not always protect a coach’s job.

Source https://x.com/FARPostZA/status/2114593088718930192

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