sportskeeda
Mamelodi Sundowns’ vice-captain, Ronwen Williams, shared that it was a difficult experience for him to see the departure of his former coaches, Rulani Mokwena and Manqoba Mngqithi.
The Brazilians ended their relationship with Mokwena following the last season, as the team fell short of winning the CAF Champions League, MTN8, Carling Knockout, and Nedbank Cup. The previous Orlando Pirates assistant coach moved on to Wydad Athletic Club shortly after his exit from Sundowns.
Sundowns had given Mngqithi a chance to lead the team, but they decided to terminate his contract this week. The club has now opted for Portuguese coach Miguel Cardoso. Williams recently shared his thoughts on the coaching transition at Bafana Ba Style.
The former SuperSport United goalkeeper expressed that saying goodbye to both coaches was tough, but they have learned to accept the new reality. “It’s obviously hard to lose someone who feels like family,” Williams said.
“But in football, this is our job, and we must remain professional. At first, it was challenging, but the players understand their duties at Mamelodi Sundowns.
“We must not challenge their decisions; instead, we should concentrate on our duties, which involve playing football. Our goal is to be the best and to take Mamelodi Sundowns to new heights.”
Meanwhile, the Brazilians are gearing up to face Moroccan giants Raja Club Athletic this Sunday in the Champions League. The Bafana Bafana captain noted that the new coach has not drastically changed their playing approach as the team prepares for the match against Raja.
“The coach indicated that he wouldn’t implement many changes but would make some minor tweaks due to the limited time we have,” Williams explained.
“In the last three days, we have been working on refining our style of play, emphasizing our defense, attack, and fostering team unity.”
“The coach has watched several of our previous games; he is familiar with our style and has analyzed the team. He sees our strengths while introducing his own ideas and attributes. The players are adjusting well, and we remain optimistic for a strong showing on Sunday, despite our limited preparation.”
Both Sundowns and Raja are yet to register a win in this season’s Champions League group stage. Sundowns has achieved two draws in their two encounters, while Raja has one loss and one draw from their two matches.
