Shoe Shine and Piano: Interview with Rulani Mokwena, Head Coach of Mamelodi Sundowns
Oct 9, 2023
auto_awesome
Rulani Mokwena, Head Coach of Mamelodi Sundowns, discusses his coaching journey and the club's ambitions. He shares his inspiration from Guardiola and Mourinho, the importance of aesthetics in football, and the challenges faced by coaches in sub-Saharan Africa. They also talk about the impact of working with youth players and the CAF Champions League.
Rulani Mokwena emphasizes the importance of developing players' character and values in addition to their football skills.
Mokwena draws inspiration from both Jose Mourinho's man-management skills and Pep Guardiola's tactical approach and flexible playing style in his coaching style.
The Mamalodei Sundowns head coach aims to create a team that not only delivers results but also plays attractive football, combining winning with aesthetics.
Deep dives
Rilani McQuenna's Background and Coaching Philosophy
Rilani McQuenna, the manager of Mamalodei Sundowns, discusses his background and approach to coaching. Coming from a football family, he fell in love with coaching at a young age and believes it is his calling. McQuenna emphasizes the importance of developing players, drawing from his experience working in youth systems. He values patience and sees coaching as an opportunity to not only improve players' football skills but also their character and values. McQuenna credits his time as an assistant coach under Pizzo Mosimane for teaching him the balance between winning and maintaining a certain style of play.
The Influence of Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola
McQuenna acknowledges the influence of both Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola on his coaching style. Mourinho's man-management skills and ability to transmit messages resonated with McQuenna, while Guardiola's tactical approach and flexible playing style also made an impact. He discusses the importance of continuously evolving as a coach, keeping up with the changing trends in football, and learning from successful coaches across various leagues and countries. While he appreciates being compared to Guardiola, McQuenna aims to develop his own identity and coaching philosophy.
Balancing Winning with Aesthetics
McQuenna highlights the importance of aesthetics and playing attractive football. He believes that winning and making it look beautiful are not mutually exclusive. While acknowledging that winning is the primary goal, McQuenna strives to develop a team that not only delivers results but also provides an enjoyable experience for spectators. He expresses his personal fondness for skillful flair, technical proficiency, and expressing oneself through football. McQuenna aims to instill this feeling in his players and create a team that is admired for both their results and playing style.
Lessons from Unfortunate Losses
Despite dominating matches and being well-prepared, Mamalodei Sundowns experienced unfortunate losses in key competitions, such as the CAF Champions League. Reflecting on these experiences, McQuenna emphasizes the role of luck in football. He believes that preparation meeting opportunity defines luck. McQuenna also discusses the resilience and character development that come from facing challenges and setbacks. He understands that acceptance and learning from failures are essential in a highly competitive and sometimes unfair sport like football.
The Ambition to Transition to European Football
McQuenna expresses his ambition to make the journey from sub-Saharan Africa to European football. While acknowledging the significant challenges and obstacles, he believes it's important to dream big and set an example for aspiring coaches and players in Africa. McQuenna sees it as his responsibility to pave the way and inspire future generations. He hopes that his journey and success can motivate young African football enthusiasts to pursue their ambitions and strive for a better future. McQuenna understands the importance of perseverance, hard work, and sacrifice in achieving one's goals.