Snl24 | Rulani reveals striker he badly wanted at Sundowns

NELSPRUIT, SOUTH AFRICA – JUNE 01: Rhulani Mokwena of Mamelodi Sundowns during the Nedbank Cup, final match between Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates at Mbombela Stadium on June 01, 2024 in Nelspruit, South Africa. (Photo by Dirk Kotze/Gallo Images)

With allegations going around that Mamelodi Sundowns Sporting Director Flemming Berg was not seeing eye to eye with Rulani Mokwena, the recently departed coach has revealed a player he badly wanted in the January transfer window.

The Brazilians officially parted ways with Mokwena on Wednesday, as they explained that their decision to go their separate ways with the 37-year-old coach was due to certain objectives and expectations not met.

Masandawana also addressed allegations of an alleged dispute between Berg and the Soweto native coach, by stating that their decision “was not influenced or based on the recommendation of any individual associated with the club”.

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According to sources close to Sundowns and consistent with reports in the local media, one of the biggest reasons Mokwena had an alleged fallout with the Danish administrator was their disagreements on player movements at the club.

In his first interview shortly after parting ways with The Brazilians, the meticulous tactician, although tight-lipped on what really triggered the situation of his departure, revealed that he wanted a striker in January and suggested that’s one of the things he could not be backed with at the club.

“I must say I was supported yes and the club was good to me,” Mokwena said on 947’s MSW when asked if he felt supported with his transfer wishes.

“And of course sometimes, like in January, everybody knows, I was speaking in the press conferences, ‘We’ve got a crisis little bit with the strikers and we’re looking for a striker’.

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“And everybody knows which striker I wanted, you know and he went on to finish as top goal-scorer but that’s football, that’s how life [is],” the former Pirates coach added.

Pirates striker Tshegofatso Mabasa ended up as the top goal-scorer in the DStv Premiership with 16 goals after he was recalled from his loan spell at Moroka Swallows in January.