Coaching is not a talk show - Rulani Mokwena

By Mazola Molefe
16th August 2023

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Rulani Mokwena has reminded the football fraternity that being in the dugout is harder than it looks.

Without mentioning any names, the Downs mentor appeared to be hitting back at armchair critics who have a strong opinion about his squad, especially since Mokwena took over as the sole head coach at Chloorkop.

His job is not a "talk show" Mokwena adds.

"When you are not a coach, you don't get your licences, you undermine the job of coaches. A lot of people think coaches think coaching is very, very easy. It's not a talk show, coaching is not a talk show. Coaching is rolling up your sleeves and handling especially at Sundowns, handling precious jewels," Mokwena said.

"You are dealing with people's careers and this is their ability to feed their families and look after the lives of people that depend on them. A lot of people think that is very easy, it's very, very difficult."

Speaking after the defending champions thrashed Golden Arrows 4-0 on Tuesday night in a DStv Premiership clash, Mokwena argues his responsibility is to improve the player instead of exposing their frailties.

"You can't do that because you are playing with careers of people. The careers of the players are far more important than my feelings and protecting my career. These people have a very short career," the coach added.

"I can go and coach somewhere else tomorrow but if their career at Sundowns doesn't work out, he's a failure and he's already judged as a failure and then that's two or three seasons of years gone and now, he's already 30.

Then all of a sudden where is he gonna go, so as a coach you've gotta be extremely selfless and you gotta put their careers first and support them as much as you can to develop not just them as footballers but also at that human level."