As the DStv Premiership heads into a pivotal clash at FNB Stadium on Thursday evening, Kaizer Chiefs head coach Cavin Johnson has expressed admiration for the strides made by his former mentee, Rulani Mokwena, now the head coach of Mamelodi Sundowns.
Reflecting on their shared history, Johnson recalled the early days when Mokwena, at the tender age of 37, coached the Under-19 side at Platinum Stars with Johnson overseeing the youth development.
Mokwena’s journey has been remarkable, culminating in his current role as the solo head coach of Masandawana, leading them towards a potential seventh consecutive DStv Premiership title and an unprecedented ‘invincible’ season.
Johnson praised Mokwena’s progress,“He has grown a lot… I like what I see from Rulani at the moment.”
He reminisced about their time in Germany, participating in a tournament against formidable teams like Barcelona, featuring talents such as Thiago Alcantara and Bojan.
Despite facing challenges, Johnson noted that Mokwena’s inquisitive nature and constant desire for improvement have served him well, crediting his football lineage to the renowned Jomo Sono family.
The stakes are high for the upcoming match, with Sundowns poised to clinch the title with a victory over the Chiefs.
However, Johnson’s side, fresh off a win against SuperSport United, is determined to leverage their home advantage and disrupt Sundowns’ winning streak.
Chiefs will be without central defender Edmilson Dove due to suspension, but Johnson remains optimistic, citing Thatayoni Ditlhokwe, Njabulo Ngcobo, and Zitha Kwinika as capable replacements.
Despite injuries to key players like Itumeleng Khune and Keagan Dolly, the Chiefs are ready to face the challenge head-on, aiming to secure a spot in next season’s MTN8.
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