It's that time of the season when we all have an opinion about who should win the coach of the season award, but there shouldn't really be a debate on who deserves the prize this season.
This is an award that should without a doubt go to Mamelodi Sundowns coach Rulani Mokwena for the incredible work he has done with the team in the DStv Premiership this term. Since taking over as head coach at the club, Mokwena has achieved an impressive run of positive results and has managed the squad quite well, with a lot of the players getting an opportunity.
Despite the rotation, Sundowns have hardly been affected and have gone about their business with guts and guile, leading the way as the best South African club at the moment. Sundowns are still on course to beat the record of 71 points in a season, set by them in 2015/16 under former coach Pitso Mosimane. They need a victory on the final day of the season to beat the record.
In fact, not since 2015/16 has Sundowns reached 70 points in a season and they are just one point away from doing so. They have already secured more points than they did in their last five title-winning seasons, showing just how much they have improved under the tutelage of Mokwena, compared to the previous campaigns.
The numbers also just speak for themselves and I am going to give you a clear indication of just how dominant Sundowns have been. They have scored 51 goals up to now and the closest team to that is Stellenbosch with 37 goals. They have conceded 12 times and are the only team in the league to have conceded less than 20 goals.
It's guaranteed that by the end of the season, Sundowns will be the only team to have won 20 or games in a season. Everyone else in the league has lost five matches or more, while Sundowns have just been on the losing side twice. They have a goal difference of +39 and the second best is Pirates with +15.
What does this all tell you? Total dominance, and Mokwena should be given credit for this phenomenal season.
The fact that they won the league with seven matches to go says a lot about the work Mokwena has been doing, rather than the performances of their rivals, as many would argue. Sundowns have dominated most of the matches they have played and have done so playing some good football.
You'd just need to look at how players such as Teboho Mokoena, Ronwen Williams, Grant Kekana, Neo Maema and Grant Kekana. Mokwena pays attention to detail and his players are benefitting. The fact that he has been able to get positive results and, at the same time, constantly improve his players is another reason I feel that there is no debate on who should win the award come the end of the season.
Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro has done well in his first season with the Buccaneers and many might feel that he should win the award, but the award is named DStv Premiership Coach of the Season for a reason. It's based on what coaches did in the league and not cup competitions. Riveiro does indeed deserve credit for the work he has done with Pirates this season, especially because he is new to the league and had to settle into how things work, as well as the culture of South African football and its players.
He has built a solid foundation for the Buccaneers this season and has something to build on from for next season.
But for now, Mokwena is the one who has impressed the most and should definitely be named coach of the season.
