Premier Soccer League and African Football League champions Mamelodi Sundowns recently parted ways with coach Rhulani Mokwena.
Apart from guiding the team to win the aforementioned crowns, the 37-year-old helped the Brazilians reach the Caf Champions League semi-final, MTN8, and Nedbank Cup finals – where he lost to Orlando Pirates.
There have been different editions about what may have contributed to Mokwena’s exit; the main one is about his fallout with the club’s Sporting Director Flemming Berg who wanted to have the main say on who the club should sign or release, as opposed to the coach’s wish.
Former Kaizer Chiefs winger Junior Khanye concedes many factors may have led to Mokwena’s exit, but surely one of them has to be the Nedbank Cup final loss against the Sea Robbers.
The 39-year-old argues the quality within the Masandawana squad was too much for Mokwena to win just two titles.
“There are expectations at Sundowns especially when it comes to the Champions League,” the ex-Amakhosi attacker claimed as quoted by iDiski Times.
“Even the last trophy that he lost to Pirates is what cost him. I believe the club plays fluid football and the guy was doing well, that’s why the national team picked eight/nine players including those on the bench from his team. It means the guy was doing very well.
“I believe the technical director had a problem with Rulani Mokwena because when Rhulani was still there they signed players like Bongani Zungu. Rulani also kept a player like Sirino because he knew his capabilities.
I’ll be honest I feel that the technical director had a hand in this but not winning the Champions League and not getting to the final was an issue. I mean they signed the likes of Allende and Ribeiro because they want the Champions League. They spent so much money and only won two trophies.”
