South African football legend Jomo Sono has called on former Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Rulani Mokwena to not be pressured to prove himself to anyone but instead focus on leaving a lasting legacy in Morocco.
Mokwena, who is the nephew of Jomo Sono, shocked the public when it was announced that he is parting ways with Sundowns despite leading them to their seventh consecutive league title and lifting the inaugural African Football League (AFL) trophy.
Within days of his departure, the 37-year-old coach was revealed as the new head coach of Moroccan giants Wydad Casablanca who had an underwhelming 2023/24 season which saw them finishing sixth in the Botola Pro 1 League and missing out on the upcoming edition of the CAF Champions League.
Speaking on Marawa Sports Worldwide, Sono said his nephew’s work as a coach speaks for itself. He has nothing to prove and should follow in Pitso Mosimane’s footsteps and leave a legacy in Morocco like Mosimane did in Egypt with AL-Ahly the most successful club in Africa and Al-Ahli who he got promoted to the Saudi Pro League.
“All we have to do, those who believe in him, like myself, must pray for him and give him all the support that he must be successful there. Not for the sake of Sundowns. Yes, he’s got nothing to prove. No, he’s got nothing to prove. He is going for himself there. He must leave a legacy in Morocco like Pitso has done. Pitso has left a legacy. Whether he’s got a job now or he hasn’t got a job, he’s left the legacy. So, he must do the same,” said Sono.
The Jomo Cosmos owner also revealed that Mokwena who pushed for the signing of former Orlando Pirates midfielder Thembinkosi Lorch did not go as planned and was one of the key factors that led to his surprising departure from the reigning champions. The 2019 Player of the Season was announced as the new Sundowns signing during the dying minutes of the January transfer window.
“He discussed it with me… The big chief there, eh! The White man what’s his name? – [Berg?] Yeah, yeah! He didn’t want Lorch because he felt that Lorch was over age, you can’t invest so much money in a player who is over 30. And then I said to him, look I can’t get involved in the Sundowns politics. It is difficult to advise you on this one, I don’t want to get involved, the moment I open my mouth, it will be on the back, in the middle and front pages. I don’t want to be involved, it is your decision. If you want him you fight for him, if you want something you fight for it, if you don’t want it you don’t fight for it,” Sono concluded.
Written by Siphesihle Soni.