Rulani Mokwena: I don’t get paid enough to pay fines

Outspoken Mamelodi Sundowns co-coach Rulani Mokwena held back from commenting on the referee’s performance after their 1-0 win over Marumo, saying he doesn’t get paid enough to afford paying fines.

Mokwena felt Michael Mosemeng had denied Sundowns two clear penalties during the game.

TWO PENALTIES

Perhaps the most glaring of the two was when Gaston Sirino was impeded in the box when he was about to shoot after being set up by Themba Zwane.

“I never speak about the officiating, but goodness, if those two are not penalties, I don’t know,” Mokwena told SuperSport TV. 

He immediately switched to congratulate his charges.

“Good win, congratulations to the boys, very important win. Three points, and we move,” he said.

When pressed to comment on the penalties, Mokwena said his salary was insufficient to pay fines.

“I’d rather not talk about the penalties. I don’t want to be called to the DC. I don’t get paid enough to also pay fines.”

He went on to hail Dan ‘Dance’ Malesela’s Marumo for fighting gallantly until the end.

“Dan Dance’s teams are like that. They always fight until the end. We always had the feeling that the game was not over. We needed the second and maybe the third [goal].”

MOKWENA HAPPY

Mokwena pointed out where he felt they could have done better.

“We get the points. We were very good in the first half, positionally, with ball speed and the creation of chances, but maybe we needed a little bit of composure in the box.”

The win saw Sundowns return to pole position above SuperSport, who had moved to the top after their 2-0 win over Stellenbosch on Tuesday.

Richards Bay are in second place, although they have played two games more than log leaders Sundowns. Both Sundowns and Richards Bay are on 22 points.