FRESH from their MTN 8 heroics against Ajax Cape Town on Saturday, Lamontville Golden Arrows coach Manqoba Mngqithi spoke to Sowetan.
FRESH from their MTN 8 heroics against Ajax Cape Town on Saturday, Lamontville Golden Arrows coach Manqoba Mngqithi spoke to Sowetan.
Q: Did you ever think that you would make a living as a football coach?
A: No. I always wanted to be a lawyer but my parents could not afford to pay for my studies. I then became a teacher for nine years before moving into football.
Q: What were you like at school?
A: I liked football and my education a lot.
Q: Do you think professional athletes' salaries should be made public, like they do in Europe?
A: No, I don't even understand the reason behind making something so confidential public.
Q: Who were your sporting heroes growing up?
A: Jomo Sono and (the late) Ace Ntsoelengoe.
Q: If you had to choose between the two?
A: I would choose Jomo Sono. He was a very decisive and offensive player.
Q: What is the most memorable match you've ever watched in South Africa?
A: Golden Arrows against Ajax Cape Town in the MTN8 Cup final.
Q: How many languages do you speak?
A: I only speak three - Zulu, Xhosa and English.
Q: How many foreign players should we have in our teams?
A: I don't have a problem with five.
Q: What are your views on the Soweto derby being played at Orlando Stadium - some people believe it's too small?
A: I also believe it's too small for a match of that magnitude.
Q: How much do you spend on airtime a month?
A: I spend about R4000.
Q: How do you deal with ill-disciplined players?
A: I treat them like they are my sons or brothers and try to give them guidance. Some don't even know what they are doing and need advice, while others think they know everything.
Q: What is the one thing people don't know about your boss Mato Madlala?
A: She is an honest and fair person who loves football and knows more about it than a lot of males around the country. She is also very brilliant.
Q: If you could invite a celebrity couple to your house for dinner, who would it be?
A: I don't like celebrities, I'd rather invite my family over.
Q: Which car do you drive?
A: I drive the Audi A4 and Jetta V.
Q: If money were not an object, which car would you buy?
A: An Audi Q7.
Q: Who is your favorite actor?
A: It's Antonio Banderas and I enjoyed Desperado.
Q: Do you ever cry watching movies?
A: No, never!
Q: Who is your favourite musician
A: It's Mfaz Omnyama and my favourite song is Ngsebenzile
Q: If you could bring one famous person back from the dead, who would it be?
A: It would be my father and my sister and also Rocky Madlala.
Q: What would you tell a first-time visitor to South Africa?
A: I would tell them that South Africa is a rich and nice country and the people here are very friendly. I would also advise them to visit Durban because they would enjoy it the most.
Q: What is your favorite daily newspaper?
A: Sowetan, Isolezwe and Ilanga.
Q: You are perceived by some as arrogant, are you?
A: No. I'm just an honest man who speaks his mind.
Mngqithi in a class of his own
FRESH from their MTN 8 heroics against Ajax Cape Town on Saturday, Lamontville Golden Arrows coach Manqoba Mngqithi spoke to Sowetan.
FRESH from their MTN 8 heroics against Ajax Cape Town on Saturday, Lamontville Golden Arrows coach Manqoba Mngqithi spoke to Sowetan.
Q: Did you ever think that you would make a living as a football coach?
A: No. I always wanted to be a lawyer but my parents could not afford to pay for my studies. I then became a teacher for nine years before moving into football.
Q: What were you like at school?
A: I liked football and my education a lot.
Q: Do you think professional athletes' salaries should be made public, like they do in Europe?
A: No, I don't even understand the reason behind making something so confidential public.
Q: Who were your sporting heroes growing up?
A: Jomo Sono and (the late) Ace Ntsoelengoe.
Q: If you had to choose between the two?
A: I would choose Jomo Sono. He was a very decisive and offensive player.
Q: What is the most memorable match you've ever watched in South Africa?
A: Golden Arrows against Ajax Cape Town in the MTN8 Cup final.
Q: How many languages do you speak?
A: I only speak three - Zulu, Xhosa and English.
Q: How many foreign players should we have in our teams?
A: I don't have a problem with five.
Q: What are your views on the Soweto derby being played at Orlando Stadium - some people believe it's too small?
A: I also believe it's too small for a match of that magnitude.
Q: How much do you spend on airtime a month?
A: I spend about R4000.
Q: How do you deal with ill-disciplined players?
A: I treat them like they are my sons or brothers and try to give them guidance. Some don't even know what they are doing and need advice, while others think they know everything.
Q: What is the one thing people don't know about your boss Mato Madlala?
A: She is an honest and fair person who loves football and knows more about it than a lot of males around the country. She is also very brilliant.
Q: If you could invite a celebrity couple to your house for dinner, who would it be?
A: I don't like celebrities, I'd rather invite my family over.
Q: Which car do you drive?
A: I drive the Audi A4 and Jetta V.
Q: If money were not an object, which car would you buy?
A: An Audi Q7.
Q: Who is your favorite actor?
A: It's Antonio Banderas and I enjoyed Desperado.
Q: Do you ever cry watching movies?
A: No, never!
Q: Who is your favourite musician
A: It's Mfaz Omnyama and my favourite song is Ngsebenzile
Q: If you could bring one famous person back from the dead, who would it be?
A: It would be my father and my sister and also Rocky Madlala.
Q: What would you tell a first-time visitor to South Africa?
A: I would tell them that South Africa is a rich and nice country and the people here are very friendly. I would also advise them to visit Durban because they would enjoy it the most.
Q: What is your favorite daily newspaper?
A: Sowetan, Isolezwe and Ilanga.
Q: You are perceived by some as arrogant, are you?
A: No. I'm just an honest man who speaks his mind.
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