No official deal yet, but Rulani confirms Downs future secure

“I will be here next season,” the DStv Premiership winning mentor told journalists at an event held by sponsors Hyundai on Friday. 

SABC Sport reported last month talks were ongoing between the two parties, with Mokwena’s agent Steve Kapelushnick revealing he’d been inundated with phone calls to enquire about his client’s availability by North African, Tanzanian and local suitors. 

Kapelushnick said Mokwena wanted to continue working at Chloorkop with a year left on his current deal.  

“The club will make an announcement. I love this club. I am falling in love with it every single day [and] I get incredible support from the club, the chairman, the Motsepe family and the board. And there’s a very good relationship with the players. What more can a coach ask for?”

Mokwena was then asked for his thoughts on what his representative had put out publicly regarding interest elsewhere. 

“I don’t know, but I don’t think my agent [Kapelushnick] would lie to me,” said Mokwena, who is eager for more trophies next season with the Brazilians. 

Sundowns clinched their sixth straight title with seven games to spare in early April, leaving their rivals to battle it out for second place. 

It was in October when the club took the decision to disband the co-coaching arrangement between Mokwena and Manqoba Mngqithi following their elimination from the MTN8 by eventual champions Orlando Pirates. 

Mokwena went on to register 21 wins, 10 draws and a single defeat in the 32 games in charge as the sole head coach, but the biggest blemish in that record was failing to take Downs all the way in the CAF Champions League. 

The Brazilians were knocked out by Wydad Casablanca of Morocco via the away-goal rule in the semifinals last weekend.