Mokwena Eyes Bafana Bafana Job
Mamelodi Sundowns coach, Rhulani Mokwena, has expressed his desire to coach the Bafana Bafana national team in the future. Mokwena revealed that he would love to “serve the nation,” and he doesn’t mind starting as an assistant.
While the 36-year-old has turned down an opportunity to join the national team set-up in the past, he hasn’t ruled out taking a role as an assistant going forward. Mokwena has been praised as one of the modern coaches who promote progressive football, as evidenced by the entertaining football played under his leadership at Sundowns.
Sundowns is currently in the running for a sixth successive PSL title, while also still in the Caf Champions League and the quarter-finals of the Nedbank Cup. The team has not lost a game in all competitions since September 2.
Mokwena’s revelation that he would love to coach Bafana Bafana is likely to excite fans, given that some of them have never warmed up to the current coach, Hugo Broos, whom they accuse of employing “negative tactics.”
Critics of Mamelodi Sundowns have accused the club of buying success, given their big spending on players. However, Mokwena’s impressive win percentage of nearly 80 percent would be appealing to supporters.
Mokwena recently expressed his desire to coach the Bafana Bafana national team in the future. He revealed that he had turned down an opportunity to join the national team set-up a few years ago when he was still at Pirates. However, he didn’t rule out the possibility of taking a role as an assistant coach in the future.
In an interview with Marawa Sports Worldwide, Mokwena stated,
“I think everybody wants to be in a position where they can serve their country, and if my serving the nation comes in a situation where I have to be an assistant, I shall avail myself.”
He also stated that if the timing is right, God will make it possible for him to coach Bafana Bafana. Mokwena’s desire to serve his country is commendable and shows his commitment to the development of South African football.
Mokwena’s rise through the ranks at Mamelodi Sundowns has been impressive, having started with the development side before being promoted to assistant coach under former coach Pitso Mosimane.
In 2017, he left the club to become Milutin Sredojevic’s assistant at Orlando Pirates but later returned to Sundowns as a co-coach alongside Manqoba Mngqithi when Mosimane left for Al Ahly in 2020. This season, he was promoted to head coach.
Mokwena’s focus is currently on Sundowns’ local and continental assignments, starting with their upcoming Champions League tie against Al Ahly at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Saturday.
This match will be a significant test for Mokwena and his team as they look to make an impact in the tournament. With his ambition to serve his country as a coach, Mokwena’s continued success at Sundowns could pave the way for future opportunities with the national team.