Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Rulani Mokwena has suggested that Bongani
Zungu still has much to do to force his way into the regular team.
Zungu has struggled to break into the Sundowns regular team since he was
signed as a free agent at the beginning of the season, and he only played
his first full match at Sundowns in the domestic scene in the win over
Richards Bay on Tuesday evening in the Nedbank Cup.
Mokwena initially criticized the Bafana Bafana midfielder for carrying
weight early in the season and he continued to be tough on Zungu in a
press conference, explaining the reason for his lack of game-time.
Mamelodi Sundowns coach Rulani Mokwena on Bongani Zungu. pic.twitter.com/cMn4gg5q7W
— Mahlatse Mphahlele (@BraMahlatse) February 8, 2023
The 36-year-old coach said they are trying to teach Sundowns players life
principles, not to have a sense of “entitlement” but to develop in them a
sense of “empowerment”.
“Good player but comes into a very good squad. I was listening to a
podcast where (Jurgen) Klopp (Liverpool manager) was speaking about the
difference between entitlement and empowerment,” Mokwena said.
“And he was saying that he’s not coaching players to give them a sense of
entitlement but he’s coaching them to give them a sense of empowerment.
You look at Liverpool for example, maybe for the last three, four seasons,
a team that was on the cusp of glory but what has happened to them this
season?” he continued.
Mokwena went on to allude that they won’t allow statuses and reputation to
dictate the playing personnel at Sundowns and that everybody has to fight
for a place in the line-up.
“Football has very little regard for name, reputation, money, value and
whatever. Football says what do you put and you invest and because you put
and you invest, it gives back,” he said.
Rulani Mokwena’s comments suggest that Bongani Zungu still has much to do
to break into the regular team at Mamelodi Sundowns. The head coach is
keen to teach the players life principles and to develop in them a sense
of “empowerment”, rather than a sense of “entitlement”. He also made it
clear that reputation and status will not be enough to earn a place in the
line-up, as everyone must fight for their spot.
