Despite fervent speculation, former Mamelodi Sundowns and Wydad Athletic Club coach Rulani Mokwena has quashed suggestions of a move to Kaizer Chiefs.
The 38-year-old, currently available after his exit from Wydad Casablanca, asserted that he cannot engage in such rumours while Nasreddine Nabi is in charge, insisting Nabi deserves credit for Chiefs' recent Nedbank Cup triumph.
Mokwena has been a prominent figure in transfer talk, linked to clubs like a headless Orlando Pirates, Pyramids FC, and Zamalek, with some fans even calling for his appointment at Amakhosi.
However, Mokwena's comments firmly indicate his respect for Nabi's position and achievements.
‘IT CAN’T BE ABOUT KAIZER CHIEFS’
“It can’t be about Kaizer Chiefs because they’ve got a coach,” Mokwena told Robert Marawa on Marawa Sports Worldwide as quoted by iDiski Times.
“And I think coach Nabi has, I’ve said it and I’ll say it again, I’ve spent some time now, because I’ve missed South African football, and I’m using this time to catch-up, so I’m watching a lot of South African games – I’ve finished the whole competition of the Nedbank Cup.
“And I must say that I was really impressed with how Kaizer Chiefs went on to win the Nedbank Cup, beating Stellenbosch, beating Sundowns, beating Pirates – at a time when there was a lot of noise, a lot of doubts, a lot of pressure on the coach and his staff, and to do that is not very easy.
“Of course it’s a great a club, it’s of course got the pressure of doing well also in the domestic league but I think that winning the Nedbank Cup and delivering the first title [in 10 years], and the way they did it, not only just winning it but the way they did it, beating other big teams, I think coach Nabi has earned credit.
“Sometimes as coaches we need that, we need credit sometimes. And I think he’s earned the credit to be given an opportunity to continue to resurrect Kaizer Chiefs.”
