SUNDOWNS AND RHULANI MOKWENA TO END MARRIAGE ...

Written by: Kamogelo Mogale

Reinging DStv Premiership champions Mamelodi Sundowns and Rhulani Mokwena are set to part ways just 12 months after the coach agreed to a new four year deal. Mokwena is fresh from winning the DStv Premiership in May and subsequently being crowned the Coach of the Season at the PSL awards which took place virtually a fortnight ago. Sundowns also clinched the inaugural African Football League in November when they beat Morocco outfit Wydad Casablanca 3-2 on aggregate over two legs under the mentorship of Mokwena.

However, even on the back of this success, the 37-year-old coach had publicly raised doubts over his future by insinuating all was not well. It’s understood at the centre of this shocking development at Chloorkop is the broken working relationship between the coach and sporting director Flemming Berg. Sundowns first group of players reported back to Chloorkop for medicals in preparations for the club’s pre-season which is set to take place in Austria last this month and Mokwena was not present although it’s not clear whether Mokwena was expected to report for duty with pre-season only scheduled for later in the week.

Sundowns have released defender Brian Onyango, midfielders Bongani Zungu and Gaston Sirino as well as striker Thabiso Kutumela while attacker Junior Mendieta is likely to move to Greece.  Indications are that the coach felt this is the most crucial point of the season and the recruitments for the team spearheaded by Flemming remain the priority. It now looks likely that Mokwena will leave Sundowns, although talks are ongoing, leaving room for a possible U-turn. The final and official decision is yet to be made following tense discussions but the probability Mokwena will step down is high.