Rhulani Mokwena

Mamelodi Sundowns co-coach Rhulani Mokwena has spoken out about the worrying trend in South African football of hiring unqualified coaches. Photo: Backpagepix

Rhulani Mokwena: ‘Unqualified coaches a big problem in SA football’

Mamelodi Sundowns co-coach Rhulani Mokwena has spoken out about the worrying trend in South African football of hiring unqualified coaches.

Rhulani Mokwena

Mamelodi Sundowns co-coach Rhulani Mokwena has spoken out about the worrying trend in South African football of hiring unqualified coaches. Photo: Backpagepix

Mamelodi Sundowns co-coach Rhulani Mokwena has spoken out about the worrying trend in South African football of hiring unqualified coaches at all levels of the sport.

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The coaching trio of Mokwena, Manqoba Mngqithi and Steve Komphela led Mamelodi Sundowns to a fifth consecutive DStv Premiership title after also lifting the MTN8 trophy this season.

Masandawana are also into the Nedbank Cup final after beating Royal AM 2-1 on Saturday, keeping alive their ‘treble’ hopes.

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In an interview ahead of that Nedbank Cup semi-final, Mokwena pointed fingers at the level of professionalism of coaching on the South African football scene.

“It’s a very delicate question because I think the coaching fraternity in SA is on very, very serious life support,” Rhulani Mokwena said.

“I don’t hear a lot of us talking about it, but it’s not for me to discuss. But in the end, to be honest, it’s a sad reality.

“I see a lot of things that are happening and I ask myself if the coaching profession is really respected in this country?

“But look, we are here to talk about the Nedbank Cup and maybe one day we will discuss it.”

Mamelodi Sundowns co-coach Rhulani Mokwena has spoken out about the worrying trend in South African football of hiring unqualified coaches. Photo: Backpagepix

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It wasn’t clear is Mokwena was referencing any particular example, but a case in point is Kurt Lentjies at Chippa United who he went from player to coach virtually overnight.

In addition, the club’s general manager Morgan Mammila become part of the technical staff, both of whom are unqualified for their ‘new’ positions.

When Rhulani Mokwena speaks, we listen

However, that being said, in that example it has worked for the Chilli Boys who appear to have avoided relegation which they were facing earlier in the season with experienced coach Gavin Hunt at the helm.

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“But I do expect maybe the media to be talking about some of these things. We are sitting in a position where, from a club licensing perspective, there are certain requirements that are needed to sit on the bench,” Mokwena added.

“Then we have a lot of things that are happening in our country, people just sit on the bench and just coach players. What does that say about the hours that some of us put in, working hard to get to this sort of level?

“I’m not sure whether or not we are getting younger because we feel that is the right thing to do or we are getting younger [because] we feel it’s cheaper labour.

“I’m not sure and I don’t know, it’s not for me to say. But the biggest disappointment is what I see every single day in our football space. It’s very sad,” Rhulani Mokwena concluded.