Former Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Manqoba Mngqithi is understood to have lost out on a huge multimillion-rand package after his contract was terminated.
The salaries of Sundowns coaches became a hot topic in June this year, after the contractual agreements of Rulani Mokwena and Mngqithi were subpoenaed in the South Gauteng High Court by MT Sports Marketing and Management, who were the defendants in a lawsuit brought by The Brazilians against former mentor Pitso Mosimane.
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The Tshwane giants are suing Mosimane to pay back agent fees, as per the claw back clause in his contract, which were paid in advance for negotiating a four-year contract, which he abandoned, after he left the club to join Al Ahly in 2020.
MT Sports argued and submitted in court, through a subpoena, the contractual agreements of Mokwena, represented by JDR Consulting and Mngqithi under Prosport International, do not have a claw back clause and feel discriminated against.
As a result, the salary details of the 37-year-old tactician and the former Golden Arrows mentor were revealed in court.
According to reports in local media, following the proceedings at the South Gauteng High Court, Mokwena was earning R600 000 gross monthly salary at Sundowns as a head coach.
The Soweto native coach had his salary tripled after contractual documents revealed that he was earning R180 000 per month grossly salary when he arrived at the club as an assistant coach and also got the same as co-coach.
During the period of Mokwena serving as one of Mosimane's assistants, Mngqithi was reportedly getting R380 000 per month gross salary as an assistant coach.
The 53-year-old mentor reportedly had his contract increased to R440 000 per month gross salary as an assistant to Mokwena, in a deal that expired at the end of June 2024.
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Mngqithi in his interview on 947's MSW, revealed that he had signed a new four-year contract as the head coach ahead of the 2024/25 season.
The KwaZulu-Natal born coach should have also received a big increase in his salary from the package of an assistant coach.
Mngqithi, given that he has more experience and was earning more than Mokwena when they were both assistants and co-coaches, indications are that he could have received a salary hovering just under R1 million.
Mosimane, in his last contract negotiation was earning R1,5 million per month at Sundowns, the court also heard.
Being relieved of his duties with 42 months left on the contract, Mngqithi could likely have missed out on at least over R30 million during the period in salaries, excluding the bonuses and cut in prize monies.
By the time Masandawana announced new head coach Miguel Cardoso, the Tshwane giants were yet to finalize a termination settlement with Mngqithi.
Indications are that the soft spoken coach is not happy with the settlement agreement and has instructed his agent Makaab to revert back to the club.