Celebrated South African coach Pitso Mosimane believes coach Rhulani Mokwena was close to winning the Caf Champions League with Mamelodi Sundowns.
The Premier Soccer League champions parted ways with the youthful coach a couple of days ago. While reports have it the 37-year-old was released after falling out with the club's Sporting Director Flemming Berg, some claim Masandawana wanted someone who could deliver the elusive Caf Champions League crown.
Steve Komphela and Manqoba Mngqithi are now the two coaches who are in charge of the team.
Since the 2016/17 triumph, the Brazilians have been coming close without success. In the last two editions, they were eliminated in the semi-final stage.
‘It was a question of when' – Mosimane adamant Mokwena could have delivered
Former South Africa coach Pitso Mosimane believes the immediate ex-Downs tactician was close to delivering the second star in the prestigious continental competition.
“I was thinking that [Mokwena] is very close to winning the Caf Champions League,” the 59-year-old told the media.
“I am not saying Sundowns can never win the Champions League when [Mokwena] is not there or I am not there. It’s a question of when Sundowns are going to win the Champions League. I mean, when you go to the semi-final twice, you will end up in the final and when you are in the final, you might as well win it.
“I mean, let us be honest, Kaizer Chiefs played against Al Ahly in the final, and I was the coach. It’s not long; it’s three years back; Chiefs beat Wydad [Athletic], and Sundowns have beaten Wydad before, I know that’s what he wants.”
‘Rhulani was the one man for me'
Apart from claiming the club's seventh consecutive Premier Soccer League title in the 2023/24 season, Mokwena's team broke the long-standing Mosimane points record set in the 2015/15 campaign.
“We spoke about records being broken; I am happy that [Mokwena] has broken the record we left.
“It’s not my record; it is Sundowns’ record, and it’s not Rhulani’s record; it’s the club’s record. We are coaches, we are employed and paid to [break records].
“Under [Mokwena], Sundowns got 73 points, and we got 71 points, 21 wins from 30 matches. Now, I thought another South African would give us a star again. Rhulani was the one man for me, he was the one.”
Mosimane and Mokwena are currently free agents.
