Bucs coach speaks on Bafana call-up
Mokwena happy his abilities have been recognised
Orlando Pirates assistant coach Rulani Mokwena has accepted Bafana Bafana coach Stuart Baxter’s challenge to join the national team.
Considered one of the best young coaches in the country, Mokwena was called up by Baxter to be a part of the fournations tournament in Zambia from March 22 to 25.
Mokwena said he was unable to fully express his emotions because he had not at the time of writing received official communication from Bucs and he was also too focused on preparations for tonight’s Nedbank Cup last-16 clash against Cape Town City at Cape Town Stadium (7.30pm).
“My immediate reaction is one that’s difficult to put into words because I think I’m wrapped up already in the preparations and a lot of my immediate focus is on our match against Cape Town City,” Mokwena told Sowetan yesterday.
“I think it would be premature to express my emotions without meeting and speaking to the chairman [Irvin Khoza] to get a sense of what are his views and what’s his opinion with regards to the situation.
“I respect the fact that I’m an Orlando Pirates employee.”
Baxter said the decision was taken to “empower young coaches”, and Mokwena, 32, has called on his peers to take the opportunities coming their way as the game evolves.
“It’s just an honour and a privilege to have my abilities and contribution recognised by probably one of the best European coaches to have coached in South Africa.
“It’s a great platform for myself and the rest of the young upcoming coaches to follow in the steps of people like Thabo Senong [U-20 national team coach] and myself,” he said.
“I think the way the game is developing with regards to the advancement of society and technology, it’s calling a bit more for the younger leaders to be involved a little bit more aggressively in a sense of a technical direction in our country. You can already see what’s happening in the rest of the top markets in Europe.”
Baxter is still without a permanent technical team, but he has sent his recommendations to SA Football Association, which is yet to decide.
After months of tweaking and reconfiguration, Milutin Sredojevic appears to have found his best line-up at Orlando Pirates.
Bucs have evolved from a faltering team at the start of the season to an ultra-attacking force at the moment.
The Buccaneers are on a fourgame winning streak, second in the league and chasing glory in the Nedbank Cup. The changes have come with casualties as the likes of former regulars, Thabo Matlaba, Thamsanqa Gabuza, Thabo Qalinge and Abbubaker Mobara have slipped to the bench.
This has allowed a new class of players that includes Thembinkosi Lorch, Marshall Munetsi, Luvuyo Memela and Justin Shonga to shine. Sredojevic admitted that a lot of work has gone intomodifying the team to where it is right now.
“We have established a family atmosphere among us and fanatic hard work. Those two are the main pillars that are driving us,” the Serbian said.
“I believe [that] we have gone from strength to strength. You cannot [just] come and press a button and things [start] working immediately.
“We had a period of working and we have improved, but it’s still far from where we want to be,” said the Buccaneers coach.
The Sea Robbers will be hoping to remain in contention for two titles when they face Cape Town City in the Nedbank Cup last-16 at the Cape Town Stadium tonight (7.30pm).
Sredojevic wants his players to give Benni McCarthy’s side the respect that the Citizens command.
“In the cup [game] it’s very simple, you are either in or you are out. We have the mental strength that will carry us in that match. We need to be physically fit to answer to a very good team.
“We have no right to think beyond [CAF competition]. This is respect to Benni and City who have shown that they will go to the group stages of the Confederation Cup.”