STELLENBOSCH, SOUTH AFRICA – MAY 05: Thembinkosi Lorch of Sundowns and Head Coach, Rhulani Mokwena of Sundowns during the Nedbank Cup semi final match between Stellenbosch FC and Mamelodi Sundowns at Danie Craven Stadium on May 05, 2024 in Stellenbosch, South Africa. (Photo by Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images)
Mamelodi Sundowns’ head coach Rulani Mokwena has publicly supported Thembinkosi Lorch following a recent incident that sparked widespread discussion.
A video that quickly spread across social media showed Lorch, a high-profile acquisition from Orlando Pirates, in a compromising situation, leading to significant public scrutiny.
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Lorch, who moved to Sundowns in the January transfer window, recently celebrated his first league title with the team.
The incident, however, cast a shadow over the player in the climax of this season, prompting Mokwena to address the situation with empathy and understanding. Mokwena shared that Lorch reached out to him personally, expressing his distress over the incident.
“Like everybody else – Lorch is human. Like me, who makes mistakes who is imperfect. I’m probably even more imperfect than him and I make probably more mistakes than him. But I cannot go deep into this issue because I still have to discuss it with him face to face,” Mokwena told Sports Night Amplified with Andile.
The coach emphasized his human approach to management, acknowledging that everyone, including himself, is prone to making mistakes.
“He phoned me and he was in tears and that broke me for sure because I’m close to my players when my players are crying and are emotional, I get emotional and I cry and I feel their pain too and that’s how close I’m with them.”
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While expressing his disappointment, Mokwena also highlighted the importance of addressing the matter privately with Lorch, underscoring the need for a face-to-face discussion before delving deeper into the issue.
“But I don’t want to talk too much about the issue except to say that I’m extremely disappointed because I have said that to him on the phone,” Mokwena stated, advocating for understanding and support during challenging times.
Beyond the incident, Mokwena shed light on the strong bonds within the Sundowns team, revealing how key players, including Ronwen Williams, have expressed their commitment to the club, contingent on Mokwena’s continued presence.
“Ronwen (Williams) came to me and said he is not signing his contract extension until I guarantee to him that I will be at Sundowns next season,” Mokwena shared, illustrating the mutual respect and loyalty that underpin the team’s success.
Though, Mokwena’s future has been in question lately, with the Siya crew reporting on how Masandawana are looking at the head coach position critically.
As Sundowns prepare to conclude their season with a Nedbank Cup final against Orlando Pirates in Nelspruit on the weekend, the team’s unity and resilience remain focal points. Mokwena’s leadership and his approach to player relations highlight the club’s ethos of support and collective responsibility, setting the stage for continued success both on and off the field.
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