Mamelodi Sundowns mentor Rulani Mokwena has revealed the real reason why he rotates his side’s starlets more often.
This comes after Mokwena handed Siyabonga Mabena his professional debut at the age of 16 during their 5-1 win over Royal AM at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Tuesday night.
Mokwena has given opportunities to several players from Sundowns’ academy, talking about the likes of Jeremo Karelse, Thando Buthelezi, Ntando Nkosi and Cassius Mailula, who has become the hot property for Bafana Ba Style.
WHY MAMELODI SUNDOWNS ROTATES HIS YOUNGSTERS
The 36-year-old coach reckons that he has implemented the rotation policy for his youngsters because he wants to protect them from the limelight.
Mokwena believes that youngsters should be treated with the proper guidance. He insists that fame can change them, as they may think they have arrived.
“Like I asked with Cassius [Mailula] be patient because I didn’t want to put him up there [in the limelight],” Mokwena told members of the media.
“This is the reason why the youngsters stay out a little bit. It’s because I try to protect them from the limelight.
“And I rotate them a lot because I’m protecting them from what we have seen in the past.”
Mokwena went on to make an analogy about the ex-Orlando Pirates prodigy Augustine Mahlonoko, who broke the now Burnley striker Lyle Foster for the youngest player to debut for the Buccaneers at the age of 16 years and 352 days in the 2018/2019 season.
The following season, things took a U-turn for Mahlonoko, who was demoted to the Soweto giants’ reserve side. And he was officially released from his contract in July 2020.
Downs coach, Mokwena, was involved in giving Mahlonoko his professional debut during his stay at Pirates.
“I have learned this thing with Augustine Mahlonoko because I was also involved in giving him that space,” added Mokwena.
MOKWENA ASKS FOR PATIENCE
“Just give us a little bit of patience to allow us to coach them. And also show them how things are done. It is one step at a time, as we try to improve them as much as we can.
“The youngsters are the reflection of the investment of the club. And the hard work put in by the academy staff, also everyone involved including the talents they have.”
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