‘People praise you before they kill you’ – Sundowns’ Rulani

Mamelodi Sundowns have been sublime this season. However, coach Rulani Mokwena is wary of praise.

MAMELODI SUNDOWNS FLYING IN THE DSTV PREMIERSHIP AND AFRICA

The team known as Kabo Yellow are unbeaten in the PSL this season. Sundowns are top of the table with 13 wins and three draws in 16 games.

The African Football League (AFL) champions have also qualified for the CAF Champions League quarter-finals. Sundowns achieved the goal as the only team with 13 points from six group matches.

Sundowns also became the first team into the Nedbank Cup last 16. The last 32 victory was an intimidating 6-0 win over La Masia.

RULANI MOKWENA SHUNS PRAISE

Speaking to the media last week, Mokwena revealed that he is not a big fan of paise.

“I’m not used to praise and I say to the players that be careful of praise because it’s like being fed honey with a knife,” Mokwena cautioned in the post-match press conference,” the Sundowns tactician said via the Citizen.

“I look around when people start to praise you before they kill you, they will pat (you on the back). I’d rather have people that come straight and show that they hate me and the team.

“That is much better because the praise puts you in a false sense of (security) and you believe the hype too much so I don’t listen to the praise. I prefer the criticism and hate. It drives me and makes me want to prove (a point), but I accept it with a lot of humility,” the Sundowns mentor added.

In the meantime, Kabo Yellow travel to Mpumalanga to take on TS Galaxy on Wednesday for a league game. The match is set for 19:30 at the Mbombela Stadium.

Find more articles from Siseko Gwegwe here.