Daily Dispatch

Chippa coach Rulani Mokwena bows out

- MARC STRYDOM

Rulani Mokwena has penned an emotional farewell to Chippa United as his contract with the club officially expired on Tuesday.

Mokwena had been loaned as head coach to Chippa by Orlando Pirates in early March‚ with the Port Elizabeth-based club announcing last week they were opting not to continue the arrangemen­t.

This was despite the Absa Premiershi­p season‚ suspended due to Covid-19 from March 16‚ being set to continue behind closed doors.

“After six months at the helm‚ it’s with overwhelmi­ng emotion that I officially announce that I have successful­ly served my loan contract as coach of Chippa United and close a short yet extremely beneficial period of my coaching career‚” Mokwena wrote in a statement posted on his Twitter account our on Tuesday. contract ‚“As we we depart complete with respect‚ dignity and appreciati­on knowing that we leave the club better than we found it.

“I want to thank the chairman‚ his family and the management for the opportunit­y and support.

“[I thank] the technical team for their support‚ patience‚ hard work and sacrifice.

“We spent the lockdown together in Port Elizabeth‚ you risked your safety and sacrificed time away from your families just so you could put in the work which went beyond the ordinary 24 hours. You guys are incredible and it was a pleasure working with you.

“Thank you to the people of Port Elizabeth and the Chilli Boys supporters for the warm reception and your hospitalit­y. You’ve got a great club that’s got a lot more potential than you can imagine.

“Last but not least‚ my biggest thank you goes to the Chippa United players. Contrary to what the log says‚ there is incredible talent and I look forward to seeing what the future holds for each and every single one of you. Thank you for your hard work‚ humility‚ and trust.

“Wishing the club and all its people all the best in its future endeavours.”

Mokwena‚ the 33-year-old coaching prodigy‚ has enjoyed a remarkable amount of topflight experience for someone so young.

He was an assistant to Pitso Mosimane in the Mamelodi Sundowns team that won the 2016 Caf Champions League‚ then was poached by Pirates to serve as deputy to head coach Milutin Sredojevic.

Sredeojevi­c’s bombshell departure three matches into the 2019-20 campaign saw Mokwena thrown into a caretakerc­oaching role in difficult circumstan­ces.

As the Bucs struggled‚ he was replaced by full-time appointmen­t Josef Zinnbauer in December.

An apparent personalit­y clash saw Mokwena go on an extended leave‚ then‚ unusually‚ loaned to Chippa.

He only oversaw one match‚a 0-0 draw against Bidvest Wits at Bidvest Stadium on March 7‚ before the PSL suspended matches due to the coronaviru­s on March 16.

 ?? BACKPAGEPI­X/ GAVIN BARKER Picture: ?? SO LONG, FAREWELL: Chippa United coach Rulani Mokwena has posted an emotional goodbye to Chippa on his Twitter account.
BACKPAGEPI­X/ GAVIN BARKER Picture: SO LONG, FAREWELL: Chippa United coach Rulani Mokwena has posted an emotional goodbye to Chippa on his Twitter account.

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