Mamelodi Sundowns could be set to make more bold decisions following their announcement that they "needed a new direction" after the restructuring of the technical team.
In a shock turn of events, Sundowns reshuffled their technical team after they were bundled out of the MTN8 by Orlando Pirates with a heavy 3-0 scoreline in the semi-final second-leg.
The Brazilians scrapped their co-coaching arrangement and elevated Rulani Mokwena as the sole head coach, with Manqoba Mngqithi and Steve Komphela switching roles, although neither of the two coaches' titles are equal to Mokwena's in the technical team.
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Soccer Laduma initially broke the news back in September last year that Mokwena and Mngqithi had a fallout, with the former confirming the report in a press conference as having "an element of truth to it".
With Mokwena now handed the head coaching duties, this publication, as reported in edition 1299, has been reliably informed that Sundowns have opened talks with the 35-year old tactician over a new contract.
The erudite mentor signed a four-year contract with the Tshwane giants after he rejoined them in 2020 following his spell at Orlando Pirates and briefly at Chippa United and that contract is set to run out next season.
The Siya crew has been led to believe that the Brazilian's Sporting Director, Flemming Berg has the backing of Mokwena, after he addressed the media on the reasons for the club's coaching changes.
In that media conference, Berg emphasized that the club also needed to have "clarity of responsibilities", which means the buck now stops with Mokwena as a head coach.
The former Pirates coach could be tempted to beef up his technical team with his own trusted lieutenants, with initial contract renewal talks going on in the Sundowns boardrooms, especially with Mngqithi linked with various head coaching jobs in the PSL lately.
Players have been coming out to praise Mokwena for his tactical superiority and it seems he has now caught the eye of Berg.
The former Chelsea scout would not be the first administrator to show support for Mokwena to lead a big team's technical team after Irvin Khoza was also rooting for the young tactician to succeed at the Sea Robbers.
"The man has no time for niceties. He just wants to throw himself in the deep end, which is the attitude of a winner. If you do that and you aren't scared of failing then you have a good chance of succeeding in life because you must be criticized for you to grow. He is prepared to be criticized," Khoza told the media after he brought Mokwena to Pirates as Milutin Sredojevic's assistant in 2017.
Khoza again showed unwavering support to Mokwena to assume the head coaching duties after Sredojevic's abrupt departure at the Buccaneers in 2019.
"Pitso (Mosimane) was given an opportunity at an early age and he didn't fail. He exploited the opportunity and never looked back. Hopefully, Rhulani will also exploit his opportunity," he said.
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