Abuya to work under former Mamelodi Sundowns coach at Yanga

“Welcome to Young Africans head coach Manqoba Mngqithi,” Yanga, who have been home to Kenya’s Abuya since July 2024, wrote on their social media handles on Friday.

Mngqithi, 55, comes in as an experienced tactician in African football, having held an array of roles in successful clubs including: Mamelodi Sundowns, Golden Arrows, Amazulu, and Chippa United.

His most recent role came at Golden Arrows, where he led the club to a sixth-place finish in the PSL, making it two consecutive top-eight finishes.

Shortly after the conclusion of the South African league season, Mngqithi amicably left the club, as his contract has come to an end.

Having served at Mamelodi Sundowns during its hugely successful years – between 2013 to 2024 when the side clinched its first CAF Champions League title in 2016 – Mngqithi is expected to propel Yanga to greater heights next season onwards.

Having been crowned Tanzanian Premier League champions for a record-extending 27th time last season, Mngqithi will have his hands full as the team attempts to make a deep run in the CAF Champions League this coming year.

Speaking to SABC Sport late Friday night, Mngqithi praised Yanga’s professionalism and ambitious project as a factor that attracted him to joining the club.

“It is always exciting,” Mngqithi, who was serving as a FIFA 2026 World Cup analyst for the South African television, said on his appointment. “I just wanted to be back into the Champions League space and see what can happen, and in an ambitious club that was willing to try and bring some players to make sure we can achieve our objectives.

They [Yanga] have a very professional setup that is very encouraging for me, and it is something that I have always been looking forward to, to see how far I can take them in Africa.”

On a side-note, Mngqithi’s appointment means a South African derby of sorts will ensue when Yanga take on rivals Simba SC in the Kariakoo Derby, with the latter club under fellow country-man coach Steve Barker.