Mamelodi Sundowns co-coach Rulani Mokwena has shared their growing frustrations with the Bafana Bafana set-up, stating there has been no communication or co-operation between clubs and the national team.
Tensions between club and country were brought to the fore a few weeks ago when coach Hugo Broos slated Downs’ decision to arrange for Thabiso Kutumela to be vaccinated shortly before he was set to join the Bafana camp for the matches against Ethiopia.
Broos stated it was as if people in the country did not want Bafana to succeed, also revealing he was denied access to Orlando Stadium to watch a league match between the Buccaneers and Sundowns last month.
However, on the other hand, Downs co-mentor Mokwena has now aired his frustrations over the national team set-up and their lack of communication.
Speaking after Sundowns drew 2-2 with Congolese side AS Maniema Union in a Caf Champions League match this past Sunday, the coach said they were not given the relevant data with regard to their players’ fitness and fatigue status.
“Also, unfortunately with the Bafana players, it’s a very, very difficult situation because with Bafana we can’t even communicate with the medical department. We don’t know the itinerary of Bafana, we don’t know the training programme of Bafana,” Mokwena said.
“We don’t get training feedback in relation to the load, there’s no data. So, the co-operation between Bafana frustrates us a little bit because in a moment’s [notice] as Mamelodi Sundowns, we are always the first to over the years show a willingness to support the nation, to support the cause and release as much personnel [as possible], including [providing] support structures from Sundowns going to represent Bafana Bafana.”
For Mokwena, the lack of co-operation comes as a big source of frustration as, according to the coach, Sundowns have always put the country first.
“In relation to the country’s cause, Mamelodi Sundowns has always put Bafana, in fact in certain moments, ahead of its own cause,” Mokwena continued.
“It’s a bit disappointing that even in the previous camp, Thapelo [Morena] returned injured, you know. Now he’s not back yet and we’re still trying to get him back into the groove, we gave him a couple of minutes [against AS Maniema Union on Sunday].
“OK, of course he has returned to fitness, he’s returned to play, he’s returned to train but at the moment he still is not in the right competitive space to be ready. And then you have the situation of Mothobi Mvala, who is so important for us, particularly for this African sojourn [in the Caf Champions League] with his physicality, his ability to win aerial duels and his ability to control and give us a bit more combativeness in the midfield.
“Then he comes back from Bafana and he’s injured, and then Rushine De Reuck in our previous match against Swallows doesn’t finish the game, precautionary because he is feeling muscular complication, but then he continues to play for Bafana Bafana.
“[Thabiso] Kutumela comes back and he’s jaded, he is overloaded and comes back and struggles with the performance. These are some of the things that disappoint us but, OK, it is what it is, you have to continue supporting the national cause. It is just disappointing that [after] the international break, with the load, and then of course we do not get any form of response, and not just from the technical team, but even from the medical department.
“But, ja, it is what it is, ours is just to focus on what we can focus on, try to control what we can control. And as I reiterate once again that as Mamelodi Sundowns we will always look to support the national cause, but it is just a bit disappointing that for the last two international breaks [when] we received our players, they came back with injury complications and these are all muscular.
“And muscular complications speak to you about the training load, match load. We have to improve in that space and see how we can get better relations between the clubs [and the national team]. I see [Pirates player] Vincent Pule is also out, so something is happening in that space and I am not quite sure what it is.”
