Rulani Mokwena fires back at Mamelodi Sundowns over claims of receiving leaked tactics

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Rulani Mokwena fires back at Mamelodi Sundowns over claims of receiving leaked tactics

MC Alger coach Rulani Mokwena has come out to clear the air over allegations that he has been secretly receiving tactical information from Mamelodi Sundowns.

This follows the suspension of Sundowns analyst Mario Masha, who is under investigation, following claims that he was sharing tactical insights with Mokwena ahead of the two teams’ clash in the CAF Champions League on Saturday.

Sundowns host MC Alger at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday and must win or crash out of the competition at the group stage while a draw or win for the Algerian champions will send them through.

Rulani Mokwena
MC Alger coach Rulani Mokwena. Photo: MC Alger

Mokwena responds to Sundowns over tactic leaks

However, pre-match talk has been dominated by the leaking allegations, taking the spotlight away from the game, and Mokwena, who worked for long as assistant at Sundowns and then as head coach for four years, has dismissed the claims.

“Reputation is built over years of conduct and not anonymous screenshots,” Mokwena said on Friday. “Let me state this very clear, Mario has not given me any tactical confidential information about Sundowns.”

The 39-year-old admits he has had conversations with Masha, who has been at Sundowns since 2015, but they centered around the analyst’s UEFA ‘A’ Diploma course that he completed at the Scottish Football Association this month.

What did MC Alger coach and analyst talk about?

“The conversations referenced were professional football discussions, some personal, relating to his UEFA Licenses, which he asked me to help him share through different methodologies, previous work done together at Mamelodi Sundowns,” added Mokwena.

Rulani Mokwena MC Alger 2
MC Alger boss Rulani Mokwenaa: Image – MC Alger

“And different tactical details that include European examples such as those from Manchester City. At no point were current Sundowns’ tactical plans or confidential material shared with me,” he further clarified.

Saturday’s match is do or die for both teams as Al Hilal top their group with eight points, one more than MC Alger, while Sundowns have six and St Eloi Lupopo on five.

Defeat for Sundowns will see them eliminated at the group stage for the first time since 2018 and potentially spell the end for head coach Miguel Cardoso.

<!-- Author Start -->Joel Oliver<!-- Author End -->

Joel Oliver

Author

Joel Oliver is a seasoned multimedia sports journalist with a rich background in covering diverse football stories and events in South Africa and beyond.
His extensive coverage spans subjects touching on the PSL, with a focus on the Big Three (Orlando Pirates, Kaizer Chiefs & Mamelodi Sundowns), Bafana Bafana and Banyana Banyana.

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