Rulani Mokwena a no-show at Sundowns training as he nears shock exit
Breakdown in relationship with technical director Flemming Berg allegedly behind coach’s unhappiness
02 July 2024 - 17:49
byMahlatse Mphahlele
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Rulani Mokwena has missed Mamelodi Sundowns’ opening two days of their preseason camp as he edges towards the exit at Chloorkop.
This would be a shock to the system not just for Sundowns, but SA football. As sole head coach, Mokwena has led Downs to their sixth and seventh Premier Soccer League titles, setting a 16-team points record of 73 last campaign. He reached successive Caf Champions League semifinals and won the inaugural African Football League (AFL) last campaign.
Sundowns’ players, without the side’s Bafana Bafana stars who were in the squad for June’s 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Nigeria and Zimbabwe, reported back for preseason on Monday but Mokwena was conspicuous by his absence.
Mokwena was a no-show at the University of Pretoria’s High-Performance Centre on Monday where Downs’ players did their medicals in preparation for preseason.
Mokwena and his assistants Michael Loftman and Sinethemba Badela did not report to the team’s first training session at Chloorkop on Tuesday, where senior coach Manqoba Mngqithi and goalkeeper coach Wendell Robinson addressed the players before they got to work.
Mokwena’s possible shock departure comes after a breakdown in his relationship with technical director Flemming Berg. The pair have disagreed on transfers, training methods, the introduction of young players and the route the club should take.
An issue believed to have angered Mokwena is how the departures of midfielder Bongani Zungu and attacker Thabiso Kutumela were allegedly handled by Berg behind his back.
Mokwena’s imminent departure from the club is a huge shock as he pledged to stay at Sundowns for many years after Esperance dumped them out of the Champions League in last season’s semifinals in April.
“My intentions are to be here, to stay and do my best every day to try to deliver the Champions League,” the coach said then. “But football is business and results-orientated and I don’t make those decisions about which coach stays and which coach goes.”
Mokwena signed a new four-year deal in June 2023 to keep him at Chloorkop until 2027.
A highlight was winning the inaugural AFL by beating Downs’ Moroccan rivals Wydad Casablanca and wrapping up this season’s Premiership title with six matches to spare.
Winning the league in 2023-2024, the Brazilians came close to becoming SA’s “Invincibles” as they lost only one game in the season — on the final day of the season away to Cape Town City.
Attempts to reach Sundowns general manager Yogesh Singh for comment were not immediately successful.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Rulani Mokwena a no-show at Sundowns training as he nears shock exit
Breakdown in relationship with technical director Flemming Berg allegedly behind coach’s unhappiness
Image: Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images
Rulani Mokwena has missed Mamelodi Sundowns’ opening two days of their preseason camp as he edges towards the exit at Chloorkop.
This would be a shock to the system not just for Sundowns, but SA football. As sole head coach, Mokwena has led Downs to their sixth and seventh Premier Soccer League titles, setting a 16-team points record of 73 last campaign. He reached successive Caf Champions League semifinals and won the inaugural African Football League (AFL) last campaign.
Sundowns’ players, without the side’s Bafana Bafana stars who were in the squad for June’s 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Nigeria and Zimbabwe, reported back for preseason on Monday but Mokwena was conspicuous by his absence.
Mokwena was a no-show at the University of Pretoria’s High-Performance Centre on Monday where Downs’ players did their medicals in preparation for preseason.
Mokwena and his assistants Michael Loftman and Sinethemba Badela did not report to the team’s first training session at Chloorkop on Tuesday, where senior coach Manqoba Mngqithi and goalkeeper coach Wendell Robinson addressed the players before they got to work.
Mokwena’s possible shock departure comes after a breakdown in his relationship with technical director Flemming Berg. The pair have disagreed on transfers, training methods, the introduction of young players and the route the club should take.
An issue believed to have angered Mokwena is how the departures of midfielder Bongani Zungu and attacker Thabiso Kutumela were allegedly handled by Berg behind his back.
Mokwena’s imminent departure from the club is a huge shock as he pledged to stay at Sundowns for many years after Esperance dumped them out of the Champions League in last season’s semifinals in April.
“My intentions are to be here, to stay and do my best every day to try to deliver the Champions League,” the coach said then. “But football is business and results-orientated and I don’t make those decisions about which coach stays and which coach goes.”
Mokwena signed a new four-year deal in June 2023 to keep him at Chloorkop until 2027.
A highlight was winning the inaugural AFL by beating Downs’ Moroccan rivals Wydad Casablanca and wrapping up this season’s Premiership title with six matches to spare.
Winning the league in 2023-2024, the Brazilians came close to becoming SA’s “Invincibles” as they lost only one game in the season — on the final day of the season away to Cape Town City.
Attempts to reach Sundowns general manager Yogesh Singh for comment were not immediately successful.
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