Rhulani Mokwena Feels Unappreciated - Mamelodi Sundowns Coach Complains of Fatigue

He said: “To tell the truth, I don’t feel appreciated. I don’t think the sacrifices and amount of investment that we give are appreciated. 

“It affects me because I am human and I am not afraid to say it because sometimes speaking about your weaknesses is a good thing.

“But I am strong, I have the support of the club and the players, which is very important. I can’t sleep because the moment I sleep is the moment the people will beat us.”

Mokwena explained all of the facets involved in his job as Sundowns play an eighth match of the month on Friday against Esperance in the CAF Champions League. 

The coach detailed his duties: “I have to do press conferences. Maybe I have six press conferences to do every week because I play a lot of games.

“I’ve got to plan training, I have to watch four to five games. For Esperance I had to watch eight games and I have to do corrections.”

The coach also brushed off suggestions that having a big squad protects Sundowns from exhaustion. 

Mokwena told the assembled media: “People will say he is talking about fatigue and being tired, but he’s got 46 players. 

“But there is only one head coach, and the head coach suffers with the players too. I am allowed to, I am human, and it is perfectly normal for someone to be tired.”

In an in-depth interview, Rhulani Mokwena explained the difficulty in winning the CAF Champions League, highlighting Pitso Mosimane’s rein at Sundowns. 

He said: “The previous coach was here for eight years and he had eight years to try and win the Champions League and we only won it once. 

“We only played the semi-finals twice and won it once. I’ve got a four-year contract here, and all I am asking for from the Sundowns fans – give me four years to try to win and win the Champions League, I am not asking for eight years.

“This is my second season and we have done back-to-back semi-finals already and sometimes I have that feeling that people don’t appreciate that. Pep Guardiola has only won the UEFA Champions League once in 12 years.”