Rulani Mokwena drops major hint about his future following Nedbank Cup final loss

Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Rulani Mokwena has dropped a major hint about his future following the heartbreaking Nedbank Cup final loss against Orlando Pirates.

The Brazilians squandered a 1-goal lead to suffer a 2-1 defeat against the Soweto giants at a sold-out Mbombela Stadium in Mpumalanga on Saturday.

The Nedbank Cup final loss was Sundowns’ second domestic defeat to Pirates this season, following their MTN8 final heartbreak.

In the wake of the loss, Mokwena hinted at a potential re-evaluation of his role at the helm of Sundowns. His comments suggest that he may be introspectively considering his position and its responsibilities.

Mokwena is in his first full season as the sole head coach at Sundowns, having taken over in the middle of the 2022/23 campaign. Initially, the 37-year-old tactician was the co-coach alongside Manqoba Mngqithi.

WHAT DID RULANI MOKWENA SAY ABOUT HIS FUTURE AT SUNDOWNS?

Despite signing a new four-year deal in July 2023 that will keep him at Chloorkop until 2027, Mokwena says if Sundowns feels his efforts are not enough, they should bring a coach who can do better than him.

“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.

“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.”

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