Mamelodi Sundowns part ways with Rhulani Mokwena
Mamelodi Sundowns have announced the departure of Rhulani Mokwena from his position as head coach on Wednesday, 3 July 2024.
The club expressed gratitude for Mokwena’s significant contributions to their success and achievements during his tenure. Sundowns affirmed that Mokwena will always remain part of the Mamelodi Sundowns family and wished him the best in his future endeavours.
“Mamelodi Sundowns and Rhulani Mokwena amicably concluded an agreement bringing to an end Rhulani Mokwena’s employment as Head Coach,” the club said in a statement on X.
“Sundowns wishes to express its gratitude to Rhulani Mokwena for his contribution to the successes and achievements of the Club during his tenure as Head Coach. Rhulani Mokwena will forever be part of the Mamelodi Sundowns Family and the club wishes him all of the very best with his future endeavours.”
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Mokwena’s Tenure at Mamelodi Sundowns
Rhulani Mokwena joined Mamelodi Sundowns as co-head coach alongside Manqoba Mngqithi ahead of the 2020-21 season. On 24 October 2022, Mokwena was appointed the sole head coach. His first match in charge saw a resounding 5-0 victory over Maritzburg United in the DStv Premiership, just a day after his appointment.
Under Mokwena’s leadership, Sundowns won league titles in all the seasons he was involved, both as co-head coach in 2020-21 and 2021-22, and as sole head coach in 2022-23 and 2023-24. He also guided Sundowns to victory in the inaugural African Football League (AFL) in the 2023-24 season, making them the first team to win this prestigious title.
Mokwena’s Sundowns team went 29 games unbeaten in the 2023-24 league season before suffering a defeat on the final day against Cape Town City.
His tenure also included leading Sundowns to three cup finals in the 2023-24 season, although they were runners-up in both the MTN8 and Nedbank Cup finals, losing to Orlando Pirates.
In total, Mokwena won seven trophies in four seasons with Sundowns: four league titles, a Nedbank Cup, an MTN8 title, and the AFL. During the 2023-24 season, he enjoyed a 21-match unbeaten streak in all competitions, winning 12 and drawing seven. Sundowns only lost six out of 58 matches in all competitions that season, with 36 wins and 16 draws, achieving a 62 per cent win rate.
Mokwena’s remarkable run included a 53-match unbeaten streak in league games from 2 September 2022 until the final day of the 2023-24 season. During this period, Sundowns kept 37 clean sheets and won their opening 11 league games of the 2023-24 season, securing their seventh consecutive league title.
In the 2022-23 season, Mokwena oversaw a run of 15 successive league wins between September 2022 and February 2023, with Sundowns keeping 19 clean sheets that season.
As sole head coach, Mokwena managed Sundowns in 93 games across all competitions, winning 60, with a win rate of 65 per cent and only seven losses in open play. During his co-head coaching tenure in the 2021-22 season, Sundowns scored 98 goals in 49 games across all competitions.
Future Plans for Mamelodi Sundowns
Sundowns stated that the decision to part ways with Mokwena was made by the board, considering their objectives, and was not influenced by any individual associated with the club. They also reaffirmed their commitment to the development and growth of South African coaches and players.
“The decision of Mamelodi Sundowns was taken by the Board taking into account the objectives and expectations of the Club and was not influenced or based on the recommendation of any individual associated with the Club,” Sundowns said. “Sundowns is deeply committed to the development and growth of South African coaches and players.”
Sundowns also announced that Mngqithi and the technical team will continue to lead and prepare the players for the upcoming season. “Coach Manqoba Mngqithi and the Technical Team will continue to lead and take control of the training and preparation of the players for the upcoming season. Mamelodi Sundowns is preparing and focusing on competing in all the upcoming competitions and is honoured to be one of four Football Clubs representing the African Continent in the historic FIFA Club World Cup 2025,” they concluded.
