Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Rulani Mokwena says he reassured Mothobi Mvala that he is not alone after scoring an own-goal to eliminate them from the CAF Champions League.
Sundowns ended their season in dramatic fashion with Mvala’s late own-goal dumping them out of the semi-finals against champions Wydad Atheltic Club.
The Botola Pro giants will now face Al Ahly for Africa’s elite club competition, and while Mokwena refused to shed a word on his former player Percy Tau, who will compete in the showpiece next month, he did spare a word about the much-maligned Mvala.
“I don’t think I’ll have a message for Percy but if I will, I think I will convey it privately as I’ve always communicated with him,” Mokwena said.
“But what did I say to Mothobi, if anything… I, in moments like this, there’s two things, one; they say those that don’t make mistakes, are those that are probably not doing anything at all.
“And two; I don’t think he’s prepared to listen to the coach at the moment. But he felt the coach’s love, I can definitely assure you of that.
“I gripped the hand firmly, I pulled the boy a lot closer, and I gave him the reassurance that he’s not alone and that for me is probably far more important than any of the words I could have uttered.”
Sundowns end the campaign with the DStv Premiership title and despite being unbeaten in the Champions League, will have to wait for yet another season to challenge for the honour.
