Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Rulani Mokwena has an impeccable record since he was elevated to his current position last year but did he make big mistakes against Orlando Pirates in the MTN8 final?
Mokwena is not one to shy away when he makes mistakes and has in the past admitted to tactical mistakes to the media in certain games, although not when they have lost.
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The 36-year-old tactician suffered only his second defeat, albeit on penalties against the Buccaneers in the MTN8 final, after he tasted his first loss against Stellenbosch in the Nedbank Cup quarter-finals last season.
There has been suggestions that Mokwena perhaps got his substitutions wrong against the Soweto giants after he substituted most of his key players towards the end of regulation time and in extra-time. So, the Brazilians could not carry the same attacking momentum in extra-time, after the game ended goalless after 120 minutes.
The former Pirates coach says he takes full responsibility for whatever that he might have done wrong for Sundowns in the final.
"When we don't win, the coach must take responsibility and I'm the first to put my hand up and accept the blame," Mokwena said in a press conference.
"If there's anybody to be blamed it's me, 150%. No hiding, no nothing. I don't hide, I take full responsibility," he said.
One of the criticisms of Mokwena was that he did not have proper foresight of the possibility of penalty shootouts and took out key players who would have been the best penalty takers.
The Brazilians had a penalty shootout to forget, after the first three spot-kicks by Bongani Zungu, Junior Mendieta (both substitutes) and Teboho Mokoena were saved by Buccaneers goalkeeper Sipho Chaine, who inspired Pirates to a 3-1 win.
Former Sundowns, Kaizer Chiefs and SuperSport United winger Thuso Phala says it was disappointing to see Mokwena take out the likes of Themba Zwane, Aubrey Modiba, Neo Maema and Peter Shalulile, who all would be the first four penalty takers in his team.
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"You have Aubrey Modiba, who is a very good technical player, possibly to take a penalty, you take him out and you've got Maema, a technical player, you take him out.
"Shalulile is a striker and you take him out, I mean those are your first four penalty takers in my team. I don't know if the coach thought he'll win it before penalties," he said.
Mokwena revealed after the match that Shalulile came to the game carrying an injury, but he was only substituted with 17 minutes remaining of extra-time.
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