Born on April 25, 1971, in Umzimkhulu, Manqoba Mngqithi is a highly regarded South African soccer coach and former schoolteacher.
The Coach boasts a rich managerial career, having coached numerous clubs including Maritzburg City, Moja United, Highlanders, and the University of KwaZulu-Natal. He had two previous spells with Lamontville Golden Arrows (2007–2010 and 2012–2013) before his return in 2025.
A significant part of his career was spent at Mamelodi Sundowns, where he initially joined as an assistant coach in 2013. From 2020 to 2022, he served as co-head coach alongside Rhulani Mokwena, a period during which they guided the team to two Premiership titles. He then transitioned to a senior coach role before taking over as sole head coach in July 2024, though his tenure concluded in December 2024.
Mngqithi’s coaching accolades include winning the Premiership twice (2020–21, 2021–22), the MTN 8 twice (2009, 2021), and the Nedbank Cup once (2021–22). As a joint head coach, he achieved an impressive record of 70 wins, 29 draws, and 10 losses in 109 matches, boasting a 64.2% win percentage. His brief solo head coaching spell at Sundowns from July to December 2024 saw 10 wins, 2 draws, and 3 losses in 15 matches, with a 66.7% win rate.
