Agent Gives Latest Update On Mokwena-Downs Talks

Rulani Mokwena’s agent, Steve Kapeluschnik has told iDiski Times the Mamelodi Sundowns coach wants to extend his contract with the Tshwane giants despite being linked with North African giants such as Wydad Athletic Club and Al Ahly.

Mokwena was handed the sole head coach position at Sundowns in October last year, after the Tshwane giants were hammered by Pirates in the second leg of the semi final, and has done an outstanding job since.

Kapeluschnik said Mokwena, whose current deal expires by the end of the season, and Sundowns are in talks to see him remain at the club beyond 2022/23.

“He wants to stay at Sundowns and those talks are happening,” Kapeluschnik told iDiski Times.

“I can’t say more than that. He wants to stay there, we are talking to them. He wants to remain, he’s happy and we are talking to them.

“He’s happy at Sundowns, he wants to stay.”     

Mokwena initially worked as Pitso Mosimane’s assistant but had spells away at Orlando Pirates and Chippa United before returning to the club in 2019/20 and was appointed as co-coach alongside Manqoba Mngqithi, when Mosimane joined Al Ahly.

However, despite winning the domestic treble in their first campaign in charge, Sundowns weren’t happy with the way things were going this season and, with concern about the team’s performances, they decided to hand the responsibility solely to Mokwena in October.

Mokwena has since turned Sundowns into a monster team, winning the DStv Premiership title with seven games to spare – the earliest this has been done in the PSL era. The loss to Stellenbosch FC in the quarter-finals of the Nedbank Cup ended Mokwena’s 24 match unbeaten.

It is the only loss he has tasted in his Sundowns sole head coach reign so far, having been in charge of 30 matches in all competitions.

Sundowns have also been impressive in the CAF Champions League too, crushing Al Ahly 5-2 in the group stages to confirm their knockout passage with two games to spare. In scoring five goals against Ahly, they became the first African club in history of the Champions League to score such a glut of goals on two separate occasions against the Egyptian giants.

In the quarter finals, Sundowns brushed aside CR Belouizdad of Algeria, claiming a 4-1 victory in the first leg away before winning 2-1 at home against a team that had conceded two goals in six group-stage matches.

“I’m super proud,” Kapeluschnik added about Mokwena’s work at Chloorkop.

“He has done a phenomenal job and he should be applauded for it.”

They will face Wydad Athletic Club in the two-legged semi finals, with the first leg taking place at Mohamed V Stadium on Saturday (21:00), before hosting the Moroccans, who are the defending champions, in South Africa a week later.

Sundowns have never defeated Wydad in Morocco, as the home side has won four of their five matches, and all those games Mosimane was in charge of them including losing in the semi final in the 2018/19 edition – the last time Masandawana made the last four.

Mokwena could look to become the first Sundowns coach to win at Mohamed V Stadium in Morocco and second South African to do so. The first person to have won in Morocco is current Kaizer Chiefs coach Arthur Zwane, who, as caretaker coach, beat Wydad 1-0 in the first leg of the semi-final in the 2020/21 season on their way to reaching the final.

Meanwhile, just like Sundowns who weren’t happy with the team’s earlier form this season, Wydad sacked their Spanish coach Carlos Garrido on Friday and have appointed Belgian Sven Ludwik Vandenbroeck on a short term deal as his replacement.  

Story by Robin-Duke Madlala (@duke_robin).