Former Mamelodi Sundowns assistant coach and midfielder Alex Bapela has weighed in on the club’s recent technical team reshuffle, insisting that he is not surprised by the changes at the club.
In what was a shock announcement on Monday, Bafana Ba Style restructured its technical team with Rulani Mokwena taking over as the club’s head coach.Â
Meanwhile, Steve Komphela has been promoted to become the first-team coach, and Manqoba Mngqithi demoted to the senior coach role.
The Brazilians’ inconsistent performance in the current season led the side’s management to take this decisive decision.
Their 3-0 defeat to Orlando Pirates in the MTN8 second-leg semifinal at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday made things even worse.
Downs legend Bapela has since come forward to express his views on the matter in an interview on SAFM SportOn on Monday evening.
“I’m not surprised by the changes at Sundowns. I’ve worked with Rulani and Manqoba at Sundowns. I worked with Komphela at Dynamos. I knew this wasn’t going to work,” said the ex-Sundowns assistant coach.
“It lasted this long because of results and quality players they have.
“These three all have different personalities and different ideas. There was always going to be a clash of egos and ideas.
“What happens when you have three left backs and all of the coaches want a different one to play?
Bapela went on to say that he is “confused” with technical team changes as it doesn’t make sense to him.
“I’m also still confused by the new structure. I can’t understand why Rulani who is junior to Steve and Manqoba is now the new man in charge,” he added.
“Steve has a lot of experience having played and coached. I see problems again if they don’t get results in the next two games.
“Also, with this new structure at Sundowns, what’s going to happen, let’s say a ball goes out of play and someone must go fetch it? Will Rulani fetch it as head coach, will it be Steve or Manqoba?
“And when it comes to the dynamics, some Head coaches will make assistants become ball boys. Some will make others do the hard work and take the glory. But I just don’t like the fact that they are making Steve a ball boy.”
However, Bapela admitted that Mokwena is a “genius” and a good coach but the decision still surprises.
But reckons that he will give him the benefit of the doubt to show what he is capable of as the head coach.Â
“When it comes to signing players, Sundowns have so many scouts. But even then, it depends on who’s good books you’re in. Are you in Rulani, Steve, or Manqoba’s good books,” explained the legend.
“So it goes back to the fact that whoever has a bigger ego, his players will always be signed, regardless of how good they are.”
