Exodus at Sundowns as Mokwena’s technical team members follow him out

Two key members of Rulani Mokwena’s technical team are reportedly set to depart South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns Football Club following their head coach’s exit from the club.

This mass exodus comes amid swirling rumours of a rift between Mokwena and the club’s sporting director, Flemming Berg. Sources close to the club have revealed that the two technical team members —Dayle Solomons and Mario Masha — are on their way out. Solomons and Masha both served as performance analysts under Mokwena.

Mokwena, who had a successful stint as co-coach before taking over as the sole head coach last year, has been credited with Sundowns’ recent dominance in domestic football. His tactical acumen and man-management skills have been instrumental in the club’s triumphs, making his departure a significant blow.

As sole head coach, the 37-year-old guided Masandawana to their sixth and seventh DStv Premiership titles, setting a new 16-team points record of 73 last campaign. He reached successive Caf Champions League semi-finals and won the inaugural African Football League (AFL) last campaign.

The reasons behind this mass exodus remain unclear, but speculations are rife that disagreements over transfer policies and the club’s direction have played a role. Some sources suggest that Mokwena’s relationship with Berg deteriorated due to conflicting visions for the team’s future. Mokwena officially left the club on Wednesday with his assistant Manqoba Mngqithi taking over.

This latest development adds another layer of complexity to the already turbulent situation at Sundowns. The club’s management now faces the daunting task of finding suitable replacements for not only their head coach but also two crucial members of the technical team. The timing of this exodus, just ahead of the new season, could prove detrimental to the team’s preparations and performance.

The club, known for its stability and success, now faces a period of uncertainty and transition. While the club has yet to officially confirm these departures, the writing seems to be on the wall. Mokwena’s and his technical team members’ exodus marks the end of an era at Sundowns, leaving behind a void that will be difficult to fill. (Source: farpost.co.za)