Life can be full of unexpected twists, and former Mamelodi Sundowns coach Rulani Mokwena recently experienced one such surprise.
The 37-year-old coach found himself parting ways with the club, a move that has left many in the football community talking.
The announcement came on Wednesday, sparking a whirlwind of rumors and speculations about the reasons behind his departure.
Reports suggested that Mokwena’s relationship with sporting director Flemming Berg had turned toxic, leading to his exit.
However, Sundowns quickly denied these claims in a statement, leaving fans and analysts puzzled about the real story.
In an interview with Marawa Sports Worldwide, Rulani Mokwena expressed his reluctance to leave Sundowns.
“I didn’t want to leave.
I have to make it clear that I didn’t want to leave.
My hand was forced,” he revealed.
He seemed bewildered by the situation, saying, “It makes no sense to me but there’s a lot of things in life that don’t make sense and they happen, you’ve just got to accept.
Sometimes football… Some strange things happen but that’s the game.”
A Proud Legacy
Despite his unexpected exit, Mokwena reflected on his successful tenure with pride.
“What I am accepting is the fact that at 37 I’ve coached two of the biggest teams in South African football, I’ve won as a coach, seven trophies, I’ve won four league titles, I’ve won Coach of the Season three times,” he recounted.
His record as head coach of Sundowns was impressive, boasting 60 wins out of 91 games, with only nine losses and 11 draws.
Looking Forward
With Mokwena stepping down, the leadership at Sundowns now falls to Manqoba Mngqithi.
As fans look to the future, there’s no doubt that Rulani Mokwena’s contributions have left an indelible mark on the club and its players.
“I am extremely proud of the Sundowns players because I am crazy, I don’t know how they coped with me but I am crazy and I come with crazy ideas and crazy things.
But, they breathed life into my ideas,” Mokwena reflected.
While his departure marks the end of a significant chapter, it also signals new beginnings for both Rulani Mokwena and Mamelodi Sundowns.
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