What a night for the young coach. Mamelodi Sundowns‘ Rulani Mokwena has been named CAF Coach of the Year.
MAMELODI SUNDOWNS COACH RULANI MOKWENA WINS CAF COACH OF THE YEAR
Thanks to his leadership, the Kabo Yellow coach was honoured on Thursday night as Sundowns won the African Football League title in November 2023 before losing the CAF Champions League semifinal match to Esperance in April.
Meanwhile, two of Mokwena’s Sundowns players also walked away with gongs. Ronwen Williams was named the Goalkeeper of the Year, while Thapelo Maseko was crowned as the Most Promising Player.
COACH RULANI MOKWENA NOT HAPPY AFTER CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
The club known as Kabo Yellow won the African Football League on 5 November 2023, before they sealed the DStv Premiership for the seventh consecutive last week. The Nedbank Cup final is coming for Sundowns against Orlando Pirates in June, yet coach Mokwena is not a happy man because of the CAFCL loss to Esperance in the semi-finals.
“No, I’m still reeling, and I’m talking personally. Someone tried to console me and said you have a double already with the AFL and the league, so why are you still reeling? But I’m reeling because I feel like I’ve let the club down, let the supporters down and this group down because it’s my job to lead,” Mokwena said via The Citizen on whether the two trophies have made him feel better.
The Sundowns tactician, who is still only 37 years old, added: “When we fail, it’s my job to stand in front and assume the responsibility so I don’t think it will make up for it. We deserved to be in the semi-finals of the champions league and based on the performance in the second leg, I think we did enough to give ourselves a chance to be in the final but things didn’t go our way.
“When I say you need luck in the Champions League, that’s exactly what I mean. I’ve got to accept, but it doesn’t minimise the pain, and I’ve already apologised to the club, and I can apologise again for that failure and take it on my shoulders, but that doesn’t mean you don’t try again because eventually we will win the Champions League,” the Sundowns mentor added.
JAYDEN ADAMS FROM STELLENBOSCH
As previously reported across local media, Sundowns set eyes on the 23-year-old midfielder from Iddas Valley, Stellenbosch. According to his boss, Kabo Yellow did make an enquiry in January, but there was nothing more to that.
“Stellenbosch FC CEO Rob Benadie has confirmed interest from Mamelodi Sundowns in midfielder Jayden Adams, but further told SABC Sport there was no formal bid yet from the league champions,” the national broadcaster reported.
“The truth is Mamelodi Sundowns made an enquiry in the January window, [and] we informed them he is not available for sale,” Benadie said via SABC Sport.
“No further discussions have taken place at all. So yes they are interested in the player. But no offer has been tabled and certainly no deal concluded,” Benadie added.