Rulani Mokwena taking praise with a pinch of salt

With The Brazilians through to the quarterfinals of the CAF Champions League, sitting pretty at the top of the DStv Premiership and the winners of the inaugural African Football League, compliments have been flooding in.

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But Mokwena only acknowledges them with caution.

''No, I get very worried, I'm not used to love and praise. I say to the players be careful of praise - it's like being fed honey with a knife. I look around when people start to praise me,'' said Mokwena.

The Sundowns coach believes the applause are like a poisoned chalice.

''Before they kill you they pat you, I would rather have people that come straight and show that they hate me and that they hate the team - that is much better,'' added Mokoena.

Mokwena has been admired by a lot of his counterparts, who have spoken glowingly about the work he has put in to make Sundowns one of the best teams in the PSL and on the continent this season.

But the coach says he’d rather they criticise him.

''I don't listen too much to praise, I prefer the hate and the criticism - it drives me. But, we appreciate it and we accept it with a lot of humility, but not too much of it, it's very dangerous,'' he concluded.

As a parting shot, Mokwena described coaching as a “thankless job”.

''I say to people who ask me, should I go to coaching - I always say no, it's a thankless job.

''It's at the expense of your health, of relationships and your social life - the only way to get it right, you must sacrifice. But it's a calling, while we are here we serve,’’  he concluded.