Mamelodi Sundowns’ head coach Rulani Mokwena has hit back at his doubters, who accuse the club of dominating the DStv Premiership solely because of their financial muscle. The Brazilians picked up their 14th win of the season on Monday evening, when they defeated SuperSport United 1-0 in a thrilling Tshwane derby.
The result marked seven consecutive wins for Mokwena since taking over the reins as head coach. Despite their impressive form, many of Sundowns’ detractors still attribute their success to the financial power fuelled by billionaire owner Dr Patrice Motsepe.
Mamelodi Sundowns coach Rulani Mokwena after their 1️⃣➖️0️⃣ win over SuperSport United. pic.twitter.com/jPpNMbzaQY
— Mahlatse Mphahlele (@BraMahlatse) January 16, 2023
At the post-match press conference, Mokwena was asked about the jibes regarding Sundowns’ riches. He used the opportunity to respond to his and the club’s detractors, saying: “It doesn’t frustrate me because it’s the truth [that we have financial muscle]. If they were lying, then I would get frustrated. Maybe I’m still wet behind the ears, but my granny used to say, ‘don’t be too humble, because they might mistake that for weakness and cowardice’, maybe that’s my weakness because I come here praising my players and not myself and I will do that for as long as I am a football coach because I know that the game belongs to the players because I don’t play.”
The Sundowns coach also added: “Maybe the mistake is that I’m too humble and so that gives them the confidence to speak the way they speak but it’s okay – the facts are on the pitch. The coaches that raise themselves as the top coaches, nine times out of ten are not what they say they are. I will repeat, I may not be the best coach in this league, but I can challenge all of them, I’m the hardest working. I’ve got no social life – I’m extremely obsessed with football, this Sundowns team and trying to improve the players and the style of play. I live in that space.”
Next up for Sundowns is a trip to Kaizer Chiefs, who they face at the FNB Stadium on Saturday evening. Kick off for the match is at 20:00.
