Former Mamelodi Sundowns assistant coach Romain Folz has opened up on his dismissal from the club and his relationship with sporting director Flemming Berg.
‘Fohloza’, as he’s well-known in SA football, was shown the exit door along with head coach Manqoba Mngqithi and the goalkeeper coach Wendell Robinson.
The French-Moroccan coach had been with the club for less than six months, having joined at the start of the current season.
Breaking silence on his sacking, Folz emphasised the importance of accepting the club’s decision and using this experience as an opportunity for reflection.
He highlighted the need to identify areas for personal and professional growth as he prepares for his next coaching job.
WHAT FOLZ SAID ABOUT SUNDOWNS SACKING
“Honestly, [being sacked], it’s not a matter of making sense or not,” Folz told Soccerbeat in an interview.
“It’s a matter of, when you work whether for Sundowns or anywhere else or national team or wherever, you’re an employee.
“Whatever decision is taken, you might agree with it or disagree with it. It might make sense or not make sense to you but you have to accept it.
“Not accepting it or being in denial is not going to help with anything.
“When I look back, being first in the league [standings], being involved in the [CAF] Champions League and we hadn’t lost a game at the time in the Champions League.
“There’s always things you can do better. Obviously, the final of the Carling Cup. We were not happy about that.
“There are better things we could have done there. But ultimately, the club takes the decision. You reflect afterwards on the work you have done and point out what you did right and what you could have done better.
“You try to improve going into your next experience. That’s how I perceive it. I don’t give myself time to think if it was justified or not because it’s not going to change anything.”
While Rulani Mokwena’s departure was reportedly largely due to a strained relationship with Berg, Folz claims that his connection with the former Chelsea scout was positive.
FOHLOZA ON RELATIONSHIP WITH BERG
“It was a good relationship,” he stated.
“I’m being honest with you that you might not agree all the time but it doesn’t mean the relationship is not good.
“And I believe that’s a mistake people can make sometimes. Having disagreements sometimes doesn’t mean you have a bad relationship.
“Myself towards him and with the rest of the staff, I believe it was a very good relationship.”
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