Rulani Mokwena has shot down suggestions that the current Mamelodi Sundowns technical team is attempting to upstage their predecessor, Pitso Mosimane.
There's been this notion that Mokwena, along with his co-coach Manqoba Mngqithi are eager to win the MTN8 title, a cup that eluded Mosimane throughout his near eight-year spell at Chloorkop – despite his unprecedented trophy haul.
Downs face Cape Town City in the final of the MTN8 on Saturday at the Moses Mabhida Stadium, and the question again came up.
"But it's a trophy that many others didn't win, not just coach Pitso. His CV speaks for itself, the work that he has done. I always say this: I am not in competition with coach Pitso – I can't be looking to win things because coach Pitso didn't win them," Mokwena told journalists.
"And then of course, in the end it's not an individual thing. The leadership of the club, from a technical aspect, means that there's more than one coach in our space, therefore to personalise and put it only about me becomes a little bit of a difficult space to go into."
Considered Mosimane's protégé having worked closely with him at Sundowns over two separate spells, including when Sundowns won the 2016 CAF Champions League, Mokwena spoke glowingly of 'Jingles', now the Al Ahly coach.
"I have huge respect for the work that Pitso has done at Mamelodi Sundowns, and huge respect for the trophies he has achieved. Of course that's the focus, to try and continue the legacy that has been left behind, not just by Pitso but by even his predecessors," he explained.
"It takes more than one human being to build an empire, and while you are at service – as a group with coach Manqoba and coach Steve (Komphela) and Wendell (Robinson) – we understand that our responsibility is to serve this institution. While we are still here we will do it to the best of our ability and try to continue to win all trophies on offer and every single match. That's our mentality and to do that you've got to be selfless. It's got absolutely nothing to do with coach Pitso or myself. It's about the club."
Story by @superjourno
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