Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Rulani Mokwena has confidently stated that he should be the rightful winner of the PSL Coach of the Season Award.
Unbeaten in 28 league games, the Brazilians have already been crowned DSTV Premiership champions. They continued their unbeaten league streak following a tight 1-0 win over Stellenbosch FC at the Danie Craven Stadium on Saturday.
The victory took Sundowns to 72 points on the log standings, setting a new points record accumulated in a 30-game campaign.
The Brazilians held the record of 71 points during former coach Pitso Mosimane’s tenure in the 2015-2016 season.
Speaking to the media after the game, the outspoken Rulani confidently asserted that he has been the best coach this campaign.
“The coach of the season would be me. I think the coach of the season should be the coach that wins the league. But I can’t not give compliments to the work coach Steve Barker has done. He deserves incredible plaudits for the work he has done at Stellenbosch FC, and many of my other colleagues.
“Jose Riveiro at Orlando Pirates has done some good work, but without sounding arrogant, the coach of the season in my opinion would be me for sure, and I have no doubts about that,” he stated.
Sundowns are on the brink of clinching the league title in invincible fashion, as they have two league matches remaining.
Rulani insists that reaching the 72-point tally was a difficult target.
“I will steal one of Jurgen Klopp’s quotes when he said it doesn’t really matter what people think of you when you arrive. What matters is what people think of you when you leave.
“How I feel about the record points, maybe that’s a reflection that will take place the day I leave Mamelodi Sundowns, which is still a very long way off. So it’s not something I’ve really thought about at the moment, and it hasn’t sunk into my brain. But it’s a huge compliment to this special group of players because it’s something that’s not easy to do and will be difficult to outdo even in the future,” added Rulani.
Rulani’s charges will play TS Galaxy at Mbombela Stadium on Tuesday before closing their league campaign at home against Cape Town City on Saturday.
