Rulani Mokwena talks about his Sundowns future

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Rulani Mokwena is argubly the best in South Africa, but he never wants to sound too certain about his job security at Kabo Yellow.

RULANI MOKWENA COMMENTS ON HIS MAMELODI SUNDOWNS JOB

The 37-year-old Mokwena signed a whopping four-year deal in July 2023, yet he does not believe he is untouchable on the Sundowns hotseat, despite winning the African Football League and DStv Premiership.

“I think I need to have an off-season to properly digest the lessons [from the 2023/24 season]. Of course, there are lessons not just about the team but also about myself,” Mokwena said via FARPost after losing 2-1 against Orlando Pirates in the Nedbank Cup final.

“The most important part is that when you lose games like this, you have to start with yourself as the coach. You can’t go too far; you start with yourself in the mirror and ask, could you have done better?

“And first, before even going to find reasons, you have to humble yourself and apologise to the football club because it is not a game we should have lost.

“So it’s my responsibility to apologise to Mamelodi Sundowns Football Club, the supporters, the Board and the club in its entirety for letting them down because we shouldn’t have lost the match.

“And then it’s about introspection, checking yourself, checking what you did and if the investment is enough. If the investment is not enough, then it becomes a bit of a problem because the club deserves better.

“The club deserves a coach who will invest a little bit more and help them to cross over the line. So that’s what my off-season will be about,” the Sundowns mentor concluded.

PETER SHALULILE INSPIRED BY CRISTIANO RONALDO

Mamelodi Sundowns superstriker Peter Shalulile did not have a season to remember. Who kept him motivated? Cristiano Ronaldo did.

The 30-year-old Namibian striker only scored 15 goals in 39 games for Sundowns this season. Five of the goals only came in the final six games of the term.

“If you believe in yourself, and you know you’re a good player and a good striker, those are things that make you not give up on yourself,” Shalulile said via iDiski Times.

“We see it in Europe also, the best CR7, people thought he was done but he’s breaking records and still believes in himself, there are things that motivate me when I watch him also because it’s not about giving up on yourself but we’re placed on earth to motivate others,” the Sundowns striker added.

“I cannot give up, knowing there are people looking up to me, so that’s why I don’t give up, if I give up we kill the generations behind us. So that is what keeps me going and you know, with the Nations Cup, it wasn’t easy. It’s a brand new team so everyone expects you to do good.

“Not everything will go the way you want it to, but there are lessons in such moments, so I’ve learnt I can’t do it alone, I need my teammates, even in our personal lives, we cannot live alone, you need family, it’s what I got out of [a difficult AFCON] and it made me the player I am today, I have grown and I understand how to move forward,” the Sundowns hitman concluded.