By Business Insider Reporter
Young Africans (Yanga) have terminated the contracts of head coach Manqoba Mngqithi and fitness coach Tshephang “Chyna” Mokaila following consecutive setbacks in the NBC Premier League, despite the team’s progress to the group stage of the CAF Champions League.
The decision, announced on Saturday night, October 24, 2026, came hours after the defending champions were held to a goalless draw by TRA United at Sheikh Amri Abeid Stadium in Arusha.
The result followed a 2-1 defeat to traditional rivals Simba SC in the Kariakoo Derby on October 10, leaving Yanga five points behind the league leaders.
In a statement, the club confirmed the termination of the two officials’ contracts and said its secretariat had been directed to immediately begin the search for a new coach.
Domestic setbacks prove costly
Yanga sit second in the NBC Premier League standings with 19 points from eight matches, having recorded six victories, one draw and one defeat. Leaders Simba have accumulated 24 points from eight consecutive wins, while Azam FC are third with 17 points.
The five-point gap has intensified pressure on Yanga, who entered the season seeking to defend their domestic title and maintain their dominance over their principal rivals.
The defeat to Simba ended their perfect start to the league campaign, while the subsequent draw against TRA United denied them an immediate opportunity to recover lost ground.
Against TRA United, Yanga thought they had taken the lead through Selemani Mwalimu, but the goal was ruled out. Their frustrations deepened late in the match when midfielder Mudathir Yahya was sent off for denying an opponent a clear goalscoring opportunity.
The two results proved decisive for Mngqithi, whose overall record was considerably stronger than the recent league performances might suggest.
Champions League qualification offers consolation
Coach Mngqithi leaves having guided Yanga into the group stage of the CAF Champions League after an unbeaten run through the preliminary rounds. The champions began with a 1-1 away draw against Botswana’s Gaborone United before winning the return leg 2-1 to advance 3-2 on aggregate.
They subsequently dominated Madagascar’s CFFA, winning the first leg 4-0 before securing a 4-1 victory in the return match to complete an 8-1 aggregate triumph. Yanga therefore recorded three victories and one draw in their four Champions League qualifying matches, scoring 11 goals and conceding three.
Their continental progress contrasts with the difficulties encountered in the domestic league and remains one of the principal achievements of Mngqithi’s brief tenure.
Community Shield his only trophy
Mngqithi’s first major assignment after joining Yanga was the Community Shield against Simba on August 12 at the New Amaan Complex in Zanzibar. Yanga won 1-0 through Albert Kangwanda’s 31st-minute goal, giving the South African his first and ultimately only trophy with the club.
Across 13 competitive matches, Mngqithi recorded 10 victories, two draws and one defeat, according to published match statistics. His departure comes barely three and a half months after his appointment in July, highlighting the expectations surrounding the club and the limited room for error in its domestic title campaign.
Who is Manqoba Mngqithi?
Mngqithi is an experienced South African football coach best known for his long association with Mamelodi Sundowns, where he worked in several coaching capacities during one of the club’s most successful periods.
He joined Sundowns in 2013 and served as an assistant coach for several years before becoming head coach in 2024. His experience in South African domestic football and continental competitions strengthened his reputation as a tactically experienced coach.
Yanga appointed him in July 2026, hoping his experience would help sustain the club’s domestic success and improve its performance in African competitions.
Although he secured the Community Shield and delivered Champions League qualification, the defeat to Simba and draw against TRA United ultimately undermined his position.
Another coaching change at Jangwani
Mngqithi’s departure adds to a series of coaching changes at Yanga in recent seasons, including the exits of Miguel Gamondi, Romain Folz and Pedro Gonçalves. Sead Ramovic also left the club after receiving a more lucrative offer elsewhere.
Frequent changes can disrupt tactical continuity and require players to adapt to different coaching methods, raising questions about the club’s long-term approach to technical leadership.
The immediate task for Yanga’s management is to find a successor capable of restoring momentum in the league while preparing the team for the challenges of the Champions League group stage.
The incoming coach will inherit a squad that has demonstrated its ability to win consistently and compete in Africa, but must address the shortcomings exposed by the recent domestic setbacks. For Yanga, the challenge is no longer simply to qualify for continental competition. It is to translate that progress into sustained results at home and keep pace with an unbeaten Simba side that has established an early advantage in the title race.
