Rhulani Mokwena, the master tactician. Image: Samuel Shivambu / BackpagePix.
Weird flex bro? Sundowns boss Rhulani makes strange brag
Sundowns boss Rhulani Mokwena has come out with a slightly weird flex about his coaching capabilities and how they’re perceived in Mzansi.
Rhulani Mokwena, the master tactician. Image: Samuel Shivambu / BackpagePix.
Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Rhulani Mokwena has claimed that his work is more deeply appreciated in Europe than in South Africa.
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Some of Mokwena’s detractors have questioned his taxtical acumen and expertise. Some of them point to an underwhelming stint at Orlando Pirates. The theory is that he can only produce results with quality players at his disposal. Sundowns have plenty of those.
The Brazilians are set fair for a sixth consecutive PSL title with a resounding 14-point lead over second-placed Richards Bay. They’re on an 11-match winning streak and three points against Chiefs at the weekend would break their own win streal record.
SuperSport United boss Gavin Hunt is the latest to point to the Brazilians’ immense spending power. Rhulani is unfazed and claims his work is admired by some of Europe’s finest tacticians.
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“I belong to a WhatsApp group where there are CEOs of big companies internationally, there are coaches who are coaching at the highest level,” Mokwena said as quoted by SNL24.
“I’m learning, I’m asking questions and as long as I have the mentality, for sure the opinions of people will never make a difference to the way I look at myself, how I look at the team and my work.
“I know my record at Pirates would be the first thing that people talk about before they speak about my record as head coach of Mamelodi Sundowns.
“For sure and that’s the truth but it doesn’t bother me. You know what is so ironic, it is the amount of appreciation and respect from coaches from Europe.
“I’m on that page. There is a page called MAS Possession. It’s a page run by technocrats, it is based in Italy and they posted on their stories some of the teams in the world and some of the coaches.
“They said: ‘Teams that globally play position and possession football’ and you know where we were? Sundowns was there and because Sundowns was there, by default I got to be there.”
Rhulani comfortable in the Sundowns hot seat
Rhulani Mokwena took over as a co-coach alongside Manqoba Mngqithi in 2020 following the departure of Pitso Mosimane to Al Ahly. He was appointed in sole charge of the team before their current scintillating streak of wins, and he should rightly be proud of his efforts so far. Masandawana have conceded just two goals in their last 11 matches and won all 11 of them. Hard to argue with those stats.
The next mission for Mokwena will be to do the league double over Chiefs, something that Sundowns have bizarrely never done. If they do so, it’ll represent another giant stride towards the title.
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