Rulani Mokwena leaves Mamelodi Sundowns

It has now been confirmed that coach Rulani Mokwena is leaving Mamelodi Sundowns after a fallout with Sporting Director Flemming Berg. Mokwena was recently voted the DStv Premiership coach of the month at the PSL Awards.

Surprisingly, he has been missing since the club returned for pre-season on Monday.

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The news of Mokwena and Sundowns parting ways was first reported by SABC Sport on Tuesday. He leaves the club just 12 months after he signed a new four-year contract. Mamelodi Sundowns are yet to officially communicate the departure of Mokwena.

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According to local football journalist Mmasekepe Matsebane, sources at the club confirmed that frosty relations between Mokwena and Sporting Director Flemming Berg have led to Mokwena choosing to walk away.

“The President [Patrice Motsepe] asked Mokwena what he would do if he was faced with this situation. Mokwena said he would choose to fire himself,” the source told Matsebane.

A player at the club also confirmed that Mokwena is gone. He said club Chairman Tlhopie Motsepe announced it to the players on Tuesday morning in front of Sporting Director Flemming Berg.  

“It’s unfortunate. Chairman Tlhopie told us in a meeting this morning that the coach is leaving,” the player said.

“The coach also told us that he’s going. He’s unhappy with the fact that they don’t listen to him on the players that must stay and those that must also come in.”

“It’s done. What’s being discussed now is a settlement. But the Chairman told us that we should not be surprised because a new coach will be coming as coach Rhulani has left,” added another source.

The coach is also leaving alongside set piece coach Michael Loftman and analyst Dayle Solomons. He won four titles at Sundowns, two as a co-coach with Manqoba Mngqithi, and two as the head coach.