Rulani Mokwena reveals admiration for SuperSport’s robust youth system
Mamelodi Sundowns coach Rulani Mokwena has revealed that he envies SuperSport United’s robust youth system, which stands out as one of the best in the country.
Mokwena said Matsatsantsa’s strength has been in their ability to carve out players competent enough for the DStv Premiership before turning to the transfer market.
And as they prepare for the Tshwane derby set for Monday evening (18:00) at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Mokwena took time to heap praise on the hub of producing stars that SuperSport set up.
“When a team beats you, and when a team has a lot of experience coaches, you take very little for granted, and then you also dig deeper,” said Mokwena.
“Apart from the other factors, which means a quality technical department with exceptional youth coaches like coach Kopo [Kwanele], who was there, he is not there anymore and coach Godfrey [Mosoetsa], whom I have enormous respect for because I was a youth coach and I interacted with him.
RULANI SAYS HE HAS GOOD RELATIONS WITH SUPERSPORT
“Even while Kaitano [Tembo] was there, I always had very good relations with the SuperSport coaches because we would meet at tournaments, and we would compete in that space,” he added.
Over the years, SuperSport produced players that rose to stardom at club and national team levels.
They have accounted for hefty amounts of money on some of their players that attracted interest from top clubs.
Last year SuperSport sold two of their youth products, goalkeeper Ronwen Williams and Teboho Mokoena, to Mamelodi Sundowns.
Some of their recently elevated youth academy products, Jamie Webber and Luke Fleurs, have already attracted interest from other DStv premiership clubs.
Mokwena added: “And for the youth system that SuperSport has, with regards to developing talent, scouting and putting together a pool that has so much potential with getting to elite levels, representing the junior national teams, that has a lot to do with the youth system that they set-up.
“That includes the SuperSport schools that you find predominantly throughout the province, throughout the country and for me, I think that’s one of the best and, of course, the competence of the coaches and the staff that is there in the youth system.”
THE DOWNS ALSO SHOWERED STAN MATHEWS WITH PRAISE
The outspoken gaffer also heaped praise on the SuperSport United CEO Stan Matthew and his team for the support they give their coaches.
“Then, of course, in my opinion, always recruiting the best coaches for the way the team is set up and supporting them,” explained Mokwena.
“You can go as far as Kaitano [Tembo] himself, Stuart Baxter, you can go as far Cavin Johnson and the support that he got in difficult moments, you can go as far as Gavin Hunt in the two stints.
“You can go as far as a certain Pitso Mosimane, and it’s a club that has shown that they believe in the coach that they hire. They research about the personality that they want to be in charge, and they support them.
“I commend the structure that they have. I give huge appraisal and credit to a certain Stan Matthews; the guy is the epicentre of SuperSport’s success,” he added.
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