Veteran tactician Walter Rautmann believes an diminished Manqoba Mngqithi should have chosen to depart Mamelodi Sundowns to protect his reputation after a dramatic technical team reshuffle.
Mngqithi previously served as the more influential of the co-coach arrangement with Rulani Mokwena but was relegated to a role of 'senior coach' at the end of October following the heavy MTN8 defeat to Orlando Pirates.
The senior coach position had been held by Steve Komphela who is now the first team coach at Chloorkop with Mokwena as the head coach.
READ | Mokwena heaps praise on four Sundowns stars
"I know that there is a lot of money involved at Sundowns but I feel Manqoba should have asked to walk out for the sake of his reputation because he is a coach with the ability to coach any team in the PSL," argues veteran coach Walter Rautmann.
Mngqithi first served in the PSL as an assistant at Golden Arrows before taking over at the beginning of 2007, then had stints at AmaZulu and Chippa United before coming in to be a deputy in charge to Pitso Mosimane in February 2014.
"If I had been him (Mngqithi) I would have kindly asked to be excused and move on to another club.
"For all the experience that Manqoba has how could he agree to be substituted for another coach who is younger?
"Right now, who knows what Manqoba is now doing at Sundowns?
"Maybe he is just writing the team sheet under instruction from the head coach.
"Manqoba should have walked out instead of degrading himself into a substitute coach.
"This is an embarrassment for a top coach who did so well for a long time.
"I would never accept that.
"In my opinion, Rulani is a good coach and there is nothing wrong with him being the head coach because he is knowledgeable just like Manqoba.
"My issue is how Sundowns went about doing this which is why I insist Manqoba should have walked out.
"He would have had many clubs lining up for his services because he is a good coach but then it seems money matters more here.
"The position that Manqoba has now put himself in is bad for his name and reputation, especially as a top coach.
"I repeat that I don't blame Rulani for what has happened at Sundowns but I feel if they wanted Rulani as the head then they should have made him stand on his own and release the other coach.
"I wouldn't want to be like Manqoba now just sitting on the bench in the shadow of Rulani.
"What Manqoba has done is very bad for his reputation because he is a coach that can be demoted," says Rautmann.
"I was always against this co-coaching arrangement that they had before because it has to be clear who is responsible and it is the same with this new arrangement that they now have which I feel is an embarrassment to Manqoba," says Rautmann.
You must be Sign In to read and post comments.
Click here to register: Sign In