Is this the coach courted by Mamelodi Sundowns?

It has not been confirmed yet but this website has been informed that Mamelodi Sundowns could be lining up a Belgian or Portuguese coach to take over the reins at Chloorkop.

 

Rik De Mil, a relatively unknown coach outside of Belgium, or Miguel Cardoso, a former Esperance coach is likely to be announced at a hastily arranged media conference as new coach of the defending champions.

 

De Mil’s coaching style and tactics are not widely known in Africa, a territory that is full of speed humps for many a European coach and it remains to be seen how he will adapt to the demands of coaching at such a high level in the continent.

 

The decision to replace the current coach with either De Mil or Cardoso has divided opinions among fans and pundits alike. Many are questioning the wisdom of making such a drastic change in the middle of a crucial period for the team.

 

Some believe that stability and continuity are key to success in football, and that changing coaches at this point could disrupt the team’s rhythm and cohesion.

 

Some are wondering if the embarrassing loss to newbies Magesi in the Carling Cup final a fortnight ago and the consecutive stalemates against Maniema and Royal Armed Forces of Morocco in the CAF Champions League could be behind the latest developments.

 

Others, argue that the current coach Manqoba Mngqithi and his technical committee have been underperforming and have somehow lost their sharpness and that a change is necessary to shake things up and get the team back on track.

 

However, there are concerns about De Mil’s (if he is the anointed one) lack of experience coaching in Africa, and whether he will be able to adapt to the unique challenges and demands of the continent’s football leagues.

 

African football is known for its physicality, pace, and unpredictability, and it remains to be seen how De Mil will handle these aspects of the game with a fixture against Raja Casablanca looming on the horizon.

 

The 43-year old’s coaching pedigree includes stints at Club NXT for three years, then Clube Brugge, first as a youth coach for three years and then as assistant in the senior team for two years.

 

He then joined Westerloo for the 2023/24 season before joining Sporting Charleroi early this year in March.

 

As the team prepares for their upcoming match against Raja Casablanca, all eyes will be on the new coach to see how he handles the pressure and expectations of coaching one of Africa’s top clubs.

 

In the meantime, the football world will be watching closely to see how De Mil settles into his new role and whether he can help Sundowns reclaim their winning and dominant ways.

 

The next few matches, if De Mil does get appointed as rumors suggest, will be crucial in determining the success of this bold coaching decision, and fans will be eagerly awaiting the outcome.