Rulani careful of rich praise

Shortly after his team finished top of Group A in the Caf Champions League, Mamelodi Sundowns coach Rulani Mokwena was not letting compliments from his rivals get to him and his team.

Heading into Saturday’s grudge match against TP Mazembe, his counterpart at the DRC giants Lamine Ndiaye called the Brazilians the best team on the continent.

Sundowns went on to get revenge and record a 1-0 victory over the five-time Champions League winners at Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium. They lost by the same narrow margin in the corresponding fixture that was played in Lubumbashi last year.

“I’m not used to praise. I caution the players to be careful of praise because it’s like being fed honey with with a knife,” Mokwena said in the post-match press conference.

“I look around when people start to praise you because before they kill you, they will pat you (on the back). I’d rather have people that come straight out and show that they hate me and the team.

“That is much better because the praise gives you a false sense of (security) and you believe the hype too much, so I don’t listen to the praise. I prefer the criticism and hate. It drives me and makes me want to prove (a point) but I accept it with a lot of humility.”

Peter Shalulile’s (below) converted penalty turned out to be the only goal of the match in Tshwane after Lucas Ribeiro did well to win the spot kick late in the first-half.

“We stressed the importance of winning this game and also because there was a little bit of a sour taste after we lost (in Lubumbashe),” added Mokwena.

“We had so much control and a performance like this deserved so many more goals. Mazembe didn’t create chances and the one they got was from a mistake, but other than that it was really a spotless performance.”