Mamelodi Sundowns coach Rulani Mokwena has dismissed claims there is disharmony in his technical team, but club insiders fear tensions may destabilise the team if they are not addressed urgently.
Insiders with intimate knowledge of the behind-the-scenes developments at Chloorkop allege that at the heart of the matter is coach Mokwena’s demand to remove Steve Komphela and Manqoba Mngqithi as his support staff.
Mokwena led Sundowns to 2022-2023 DStv Premiership success, the club’s sixth consecutive league title, and is in discussions with management over a new contract.
Among his terms for renewal is to stop working with his assistant Komphela and senior coach Mngqithi. “I understand that it is his (Mokwena’s) wish not to have them in his team,” said the source. “There is a poisonous mood in the air. He wants to remove them to gain complete power and control.”
Mokwena has apparently asked for Michael Loftman, brought in as a set-piece coach, to become his second-in-command. It is unclear whether Sundowns management will yield to his demands. “It has not been outlined completely, but what is happening is unpleasant."
If he feels that Michael Loftman is better than all of them, then for sure his wish must be granted
— Sundowns insider
Another source added: “It is only fair for him to bring someone he feels comfortable with. If he feels that Loftman is better than all of them, then for sure his wish must be granted. That’s his discretion. When Loftman arrived at the club, the team was very strong in offensive and defensive set pieces. That strength is gone since he took over.”
Speaking to the Sunday Times while on holiday this week, Mokwena dismissed allegations of disharmony as “social media talk”.
He said: “Nooo... I can't speak about those things. It’s all social media. I think the club will speak and I should also have that level of respect to say, let me leave it to the club to deal with it. I'm sure that the club will give an announcement very soon.”
Mokwena said he had not given any thought to the composition of his technical staff. “We’re a group, a team and we’re working together for a common course. We work for the football club and the football club comes first. We all know that.
“To tell you the truth, I haven’t even thought about those things. I have just been relaxing, and I want to take some time off. I haven’t put my mind to it. We have a very good technical team, with good coaches and we work well together. So that’s as far as I can move. The club will speak and should also have that level of respect to leave that for the club to make an announcement soon.”
Mokwena said his contract negotiations will be completed in a matter of days. “It’s almost done, it’s minor things (left to be tied up) but my agent is dealing with those. It’s not a big issue as the people claim but it’s almost done. It should be done within the next few days, I think,” he said.
Mngqithi would not be drawn to discuss the said discord. Asked about being linked with Kaizer Chiefs, he said: “At this stage, it is still a rumour. I have not had discussions with Chiefs.”
And AmaZulu? “They (AmaZulu) spoke to me prior to the end of the season last year (2022) and I told them that, because I'm still contracted to the club, they must speak to the club. I still have a contract with Sundowns until the end of the coming 2023-24 season,” he said.
Sundowns return to duty at the end of June. “We do medicals on the 29th and it’s possible we may go somewhere,” Mokwena said. There’s a lot of work being done by our sporting director (Flemming Berg).
“We shouldn’t expect a lot of movement. Four or five players in, and four or five players out. It’s not like a normal Sundowns window when you have so many players coming out. No, it's not a lot.”
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.