Manqoba Mngqithi goes full Steve Komphela as he hits back at critics after his Mamelodi Sundowns exit - 'No dogs bark at a car that’s not moving’

Manqoba Mngqithi was fired by Mamelodi Sundowns in December 2024 after the Tshwane giants felt the team was not moving in a direction aligned with their vision.

Replaced by Miguel Cardoso, Mngqithi walked away amid some criticism from some quarters of South African football for his tactical choices while at the helm.

The 53-year-old has now responded to his critics on an appearance on the Golden Arrows' Up Back Through Podcast on YouTube, and threw in an idiom that Steve Komphela would be proud of.

“I don’t think people who speak behind cameras hurt me that much,” Mngqithi told the podcast.

“Sometimes they don’t even have an identity. So, I’d be unfair to myself if I feel bad about what people say. We made these choices of the careers we are doing, and at home, they say, ‘No dogs bark at a car that’s not moving,’ but when you’re doing something right, you then become the ultimate target. 

“Fortunately for me, I think the person who knows me better than many people is sis Mato [Madlala], the owner of this club [Arrows]. She knows me that I’m so thick-skinned…I don’t give a damn about what people are saying," added the former Golden Arrows coach. 

“I know my capacity, I know what I’m capable of, and I don’t have a problem of societal pressure. Whether do I fit in? Or not. What do people think of me? I don’t have that. 

“I’m too confident, as a person, that’s one thing you should know. I’m a strong believer in my principles, no matter who says what. I’m confident about my capacity as a coach. 

“I know I will get another job. It’s inevitable. It’s something you can’t stop. I’ll get another job and do well in that job, and fortunately, with God’s grace, I think I have won too much.”

Mngqithi is one of the high-profile South African coaches who are currently jobless, joining the likes of Pitso Mosimane, Roger de Sa and Gordon Igesund.

His availability on the market gives clubs, especially on the domestic front, options to consider him should they need a new coach.

It is to be seen which job Mngqithi will take next, locally or abroad.

He has never coached outside South Africa and it could be something the experienced coach might consider in future.