Mamelodi Sundowns coach Rulani Mokwena is tempted to cut short the team’s off-season break to rectify the just-ended season’s shortcomings.
Mokwena is not resting on his laurels and has revealed how he wants to keep his team’s shape. The youthful coach Rulani Mokwena is plotting to sweep all league titles next season.
During the 2022/23 season, Mokwena set impressive individual records as he helped Mamelodi Sundowns retain the DStv Premiership title.
The shrewd tactician also masterminded Sundowns’ Carling Cup triumph. But his men could not do the same in other competitions.
They were semi-finalists in the CAF Champions league, Nedbank Cup and the MTN8 Cup. He has declared that he will not rest until he wins the titles he missed this season.
RULANI MOKWENA’S DISAPPOINTMENT
“We are disappointed that we only won the league. Of course, we also won the Carling Cup.
“And we got to the semi-finals of all the other competitions, but even if we had won everything, we would still feel that we could have done better. We have a feeling that we can do better next year,” Mokwena said.
And to ensure his dream is a success, Mokwena has hinted at shortening his team’s off-season break.
WHY RULANI MOKWENA WANTS A SHORT BREAK
Despite his players ‘ requests, the 36-year-old did not rule out a possible early return to training.
“The players have been saying I should allow them to go on holiday. But if it were me, we could have already been on a training pitch,” Mokwena added.
“There is a fire that says we should do more, and there is a pain that is pushing me to a space that we want to be back as soon as possible.
“We want to be back on the pitch soon because we want to play better and win better next season.
“But its also important to put things into perspective. What we have done under the circumstances and what playing the way we have been playing and being so offensive.”
The Mamelodi Sundowns mentor is elated by how they attained the highest number of clean sheets.
“We have defied theory in a way because we probably have the best defensive record in terms of clean sheets.
“But we haven’t done that as a team that is predominantly without the ball and defends deep. Good defensive teams don’t do that.
“We have done it in a different way while trying to be as offensive as we can possibly can. This perspective allows me to be proud of the team and of what we have achieved,” he said.
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