Mamelodi Sundowns supporters are vocalizing their desire for the return of former coach Rulani Mokwena after his current side, MC Alger, held the South African giants to a goalless draw in the CAF Champions League on Friday evening.
The match at the Stade Ali Ammar Douéra saw a reunion between Mokwena and his former club, where he served for nearly a decade. Despite the draw giving Sundowns four points from two group games and earning MC Alger their first point, many felt that Mokwena’s tactical approach outshone that of current Sundowns coach, Miguel Cardoso.
Tactical Superiority Credited to Mokwena
Mokwena’s sudden departure from the Brazilians, despite his success in the league and reaching back-to-back CAF Champions League semi-finals, had previously confused many supporters.
Following the draw, several Sundowns players and fans acknowledged that MC Alger were tactically superior.
- Fan Criticism of Cardoso: Fans took to social media to praise Mokwena’s tactics, suggesting that Coach Cardoso was fortunate to secure a draw.
- One fan noted: “Tactically there was one clear winner on the night… Rulani was way better than Cardoso, most of the match was played on their terms… players let him down. Truth be told, Cardoso has taken the team backwards.”
- Another highlighted Mokwena’s knowledge: “We played against Rulani, who built Sundowns’ system. He did exactly what we used to do to Pirates and Chiefs, giving opponents 0 chances. He’s a master of that…”
- A third fan summarized: “You can see that Rulani had a clear plan for Sundowns and a good strategy for a win but he was failed by players…”
Group Standings Update
The draw means Mamelodi Sundowns moves to four points after two matches in their CAF Champions League group.
