Mamelodi Sundowns coach accused of destroying amateur player’s future

A Mamelodi Sundowns coach has been accused of denying an amateur player an opportunity to better his life outside of football.

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Rhulani Mokwena‘s name hogged the headlines on Monday after allegations of him withholding Lesego Motlhamme‘s clearance surfaced.

The allegations leveled against Mokwena were made by Varsity College technical team member Linda Shange in an interview with Sowetan.

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According to Shange, Motlhamme (27) was most recently on the books of Mokwena’s ameteur club Black Poison FC.

And upon realising that his chances of playing professional football were minimal, Motlhamme left Black Poison for Varsity College in 2021 in an attempt to secure a sports bursary.

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But before then, Motlhamme played for Varsity College in 2018 before signing for Mokwena’s Black Poison in 2019.

However, he cannot be registered by Varsity College in the SAB League without a clearance which Black Poison owner Mokwena reportedly refused to hand over.

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“In 2018, Lesego was playing for Varsity College in the SAB League. In 2019 he left to join Rhulani’s team, Black Poison,” said Shange.

“Last year (2021), before the SAB season started, around September, the player asked Varsity College to offer him a sports bursary because he’s now 27 years old.

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“So, he’s realised it’s not going to be easy to be a professional footballer.”

SUNDOWNS COACH IS DESTROYING PLAYER’S FUTURE AND LIFE – SHANGE

“We tried to help him by getting his clearance from Black Poison so that we’d sign him and offer him that bursary because before leaving us he was already studying,” explained Shange.

“So, he wants to continue but Rhulani has denied him that opportunity. Rhulani is destroying Motlhamme’s life and future.”

RHULANI DEMANDS DEVELOPMENTAL FEE, ALLEGES SHANGE

Despite signing Motlhamme from Varsity College in 2019, Shange alleges that Rhulani Mokwena demanded a developmental fee in order to release the player’s clearance.

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“Rhulani’s questionable behaviour started when he told us he wanted a developmental fee for Motlhamme,” revealed Shange.

“When we reminded Rhulani that the boy had been with us before, he retreated and asked to speak to the player to beg him to stay but the boy made it clear he wanted to leave.”

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Mokwena was reportedly called to comment on the matter but he dismissed it, saying he doesn’t get involved with clearances, especially when there are lies involved.

“I don’t get involved [with] clearances, especially when there are lies,” Mokwena is quoted as saying by the same publication.

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