Rulani Mokwena has detailed how he plans to lead Mamelodi Sundowns in his new role as head coach.
Mokwena was elevated to head coach on Monday, with Steve Komphela promoted to first team coach, while Manqoba Mngqithi was demoted to senior coach, a role that Komphela held.
But despite the coaching reigns being headed to Mokwena, the Soweto-born coach insists that his new role is nothing more than just a title.
Mokwena states that his new role doesn’t make him more important than Mngqithi and Komphela.
Before the technical team shake-up, Mngqithi and Mokwena were co-coaches, and Komphela was in the advisory role of senior coach.
HOW MOKWENA FEELS…
“How do I feel? I feel a sense of gratitude and appreciation for being given a huge responsibility,” Mokwena told the media.
“But it is a collective effort; nothing is changing because I am just as important as anybody in this club, if not less important.”
Mokwena expressed gratitude to club chairman Thlopie Motsepe for entrusting him with the massive task of leading the Tshwane giants.
In his first game as head coach, Mokwena led Sundowns to a 5-0 win over Maritzburg United in a DStv Premiership clash at the Harry Gwala Stadium in Pietermaritzburg on Tuesday night.
The comprehensive victory came at the back of a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Orlando Pirates in the MTN8 semis, which resulted in the Sundowns management restructuring the club’s technical team.
Sundowns said: “These changes were necessitated by the poor performances and unconvincing victories that the club has experienced for quite some time.
With that in mind, Mokwena said some of the best leaders arise in a moment of crisis, while he reiterated that he was not elevated at Sundowns.
WHAT THE ROLE CHANGE MEANS
“There are far more important people at Mamelodi Sundowns than myself.
“So I am just a small piece of the puzzle that tries to give it best to this organisation,” he said.
“I will continue to do that; we still have coach Manqoba Mngqithi, who is a very esteemed, excellent coach.
“Steve Komphela is also a very good coach, and his experience speaks for itself and the rest of the technical team.”
“So, nothing changes, my importance is not elevated at all.
“The late president Nelson Mandela said, some of the best leaders lead from the back. You don’t even hear much about them until there is a moment of crisis.”
“When they stand up, they protect everyone else, so I’m grateful to the president, the board and everyone at Sundowns.
“I appreciate the believe and trust from them; for me, it’s business as usual.
“And the club comes first; no individual is more important than the club, including myself.”
