Rulani Mokwena and Manqoba Mngqithi

Mamelodi Sundowns coaches make history following MTN 8 Cup triumph

Two of the three Mamelodi Sundowns co-coaches Manqoba Mngqithi and Rulani Mokwena made history as the club won the MTN 8 Cup on Saturday evening.

Rulani Mokwena and Manqoba Mngqithi

Two of the three Mamelodi Sundowns co-coaches Manqoba Mngqithi and Rulani Mokwena made history as the club won the MTN 8 Cup on Saturday evening.

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Sundowns beat Cape Town City on penalties to win the previously elusive MTN 8 Cup, etching Mngqithi and Mokwena’s names in the history books in the process. 

Sundowns took the lead

Mamelodi Sundowns were the side that took the lead midway through the first half, with lovely defensive attitude from Bafana Bafana international Thabiso Kutumelo, winning the ball back high before setting up Thaphelo Morena for the games first goal. 

Cape Town City eventually equalised

Cape Town City were determined not to take the fight lying down, however, with coach Eric Tinkler, who has experience winning the MTN 8, deciding to alter his team formation. That then saw them take a measure of control over Sundowns, which eventually yielded results when Bafana Bafana call up Fagrie Lakay nestled home the equaliser which would set up the extra time period. 

Mokwena inspired his charges with speech

That, is then where Mokwena would take over the spotlight from the players, as with the Sundowns players needing motivation, he was on hand to give them a speech. However, it was the unique contents of the speech that had social media users in stitches, with Mokwena finding it necessary to use an analogy from the 1976 Soweto Uprising.

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Mokwena included an example of Hector Peterson being shot in the front instead of the back, with that alone depicting that he never turned his back on the struggle, hence he became a symbol of remembrance from that particular event. 

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In the end, that speech from Mokwena would help his Sundowns charges to get the better of Cape Town City in a rather drama filled penalty shoot out where Dennis Onyango stole the show. The former Ugandan international made five saves in that shootout and was instrumental in helping the Brazilians win. 

History makers!

With that win, Mngqithi and Mokwena made MTN 8 history. Mngqithi became the first coach to win the tournament more than once, having previously won it with Golden Arrows. Mokwena becomes the youngest coach to ever win the cup at the age of 34.