Mokwena on 'father figure & icon’ relationship with Mosimane

Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Rulani Mokwena

Monday Jan 30, 2023. 12:04

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Rulani Mokwena paid his respects to coach Pitso Mosimane recently and spoke glowingly of the popular mentor’s influence on his budding career.

The Brazilians are currently on a 14-match winning streak in the DStv Premiership, as Mokwena’s troops kick into a different gear in the second-half of the 2022/23 campaign.

As a young coach at Chloorkop, Mosimane gave Mokwena the opportunity to prove himself as an assistant back in 2014 and excelled in his role.

In reflecting on his relationship with Mosimane, Mokwena described coach Pitso as a Downs ‘icon’, given his contribution to the club.

“I can only speak in glowing terms [about coach Pitso],” Mokwena said, according to the Sowetan.

“I know South Africa would like for it to be a spicy relationship but people don’t know that I consider coach Pitso not just a mentor but a father figure because he played with my father [Orlando Pirates legend Julias Sono].

“He is a very close family friend and he is a Sundowns man. He has done so much for this football club and is regarded as an icon and will go into the books of this club.

“The contribution he has made [in my career], I heard Arteta speak about Pep, and I could go on and on and run out of superlatives because he has taught me a lot.”