Mamelodi Sundowns chairman Tlhopie Motsepe explains coaching changes

The restructuring of the Sundowns technical team followed the heavy 3-0 loss to Orlando Pirates in the MTN8 semi-final second leg in Polokwane, which saw Steve Komphela redeployed from “senior coach” to assistant coach and Manqoba Mngqithi, who had previously been “co-coach” with Mokwena, demoted to “senior coach”.

In an interview with SABC Sport on the sidelines of the World Football Summit Africa in Durban yesterday, Motsepe shared more on what prompted these changes and feels that there is now more clarity on the roles at the club.

"The reasons why the changes were made was because we needed a little bit more clarity in terms of the messaging going across the technical structures," said Motsepe.

"So, what we're seeing now is a result of all our coaches being able to communicate more clearly, the structures and flow of information is going at an easier rate."

Mokwena has been coaching at the highest level since 2014, when he was promoted to serve alongside Mngqithi as Pitso Mosimane’s assistants, after previously leading Sundowns’ U19 team, where he coached the likes of Percy Tau, the late Motjeka Madisha and Siphelele Mkhulise.

Motsepe says Mokwena’s ascendancy to the top job at the club should serve as inspiration to young people in the country. 

"I think, when you get given an opportunity, it's on you to seize that opportunity and make the most of it. But they say luck is when preparation meets hard work, and I think Rulani has been preparing, been a student of the game for so, so long," he added.

"His passion and determination to always improve is the reason why he has found himself constantly so close to this position, and now being able to take the lead and acquire the role of head coach.

"And his story is an important lesson to many young South Africans that, if you work hard behind the scenes and continuously try to improve yourself, your time and opportunity will come, and it's on you to make sure you sieze that opportunity and run with it."