I reassured him that he's not alone – Rulani Mokwena on Mothobi Mvala

Mokwena was reacting after seeing his team crashing out of the CAF Champions League and failing to reach their first final since 2016 after they were eliminated by defending champions Wydad Casablanca of Morocco on an away goal rule.

The Brazilians scored two goals through captain Themba Zwane and Peter Shalulile but the visitors responded twice through Ayoub El Amloud and Mvala’s own goal.  

The two teams played to a two-all draw at a packed Loftus Versfeld stadium in Pretoria. 

Asked how Mvala may be taking Sundowns' exit from the CAF Champions League Mokwena said he knows that he may not be ready to listen to him at the moment but felt his support.

"In moments like this, there are two things. One, they say 'Those that don't make mistakes are those that probably are not doing anything at all'. Two, I don't think he's prepared to listen to the coach at the moment but he felt the coach's love," he said.

"I can definitely assure you of that. I gripped the hand firmly; I pulled the body a lot closer and I gave him the reassurance that he's not alone and that for me is far more important than any other words that I could have uttered."

Mokwena has also made a bold claim that his side will win its second CAF Champions League title in the near future and achieve that by playing their unique style. 

"We will continue with this dream and we will win the Champions League but it might not be this season of course. It might not be next season but eventually, we will win the Champions League and we will win it playing the way the club, its supporters, and its culture knows. Because if you want to change the style of football then you've got to take out quite a lot of what's speaks to this club."