Mamelodi Sundowns coach Rulani Mokwena and Bafana Bafana counterpart, Hugo Broos are involved in another beef. Bafana is away in Algeria preparing for two friendlies against Algeria and Andorra but they are without Sundowns players.
This has led to the Belgian mentor lamenting Sundowns and Mokwena for antics, after saying their players are injured. Mokwena said after their Nedbank Cup match against Maritzburg United, some of his Bafana players are nursing injuries.
Broos vs Mokwena: Another Nasty Beef Between the Two Bosses
Mokwena referred to Bafana skipper Ronwen Williams and midfielder Teboho Mokoena. The Masandawana boss, Mokwena says Williams is nursing a shoulder injury from the recent Afcon tournament.
Bafana arrived in the North African country for the FIFA Series on Monday with the exclusion of Sundowns stars, but Broos is unhappy. Fuelling the beef is Mokwena who said he loves to support the national side but he can’t risk his players and release them as they are injured. “Ronza [Williams] is struggling with his shoulder, and we have a very difficult Champions League game,” Mokwena told journalists after the match on Sunday.
“Teboho has been struggling with his knee since AFCON [Africa Cup of Nations]. Ronza also had a shoulder problem since AFCON. They were rested because they’ve got niggling injuries, and that’s really the truth. Are the injuries serious enough to keep them away from Bafana? I don’t know. As a club, we’ve always supported the national team agenda, and we will continue to do that.”
Beef: Broos Responds to Mokwena’s Stance on Injured Players
The 71-year-old Bafana mentor, Broos hit back and said if the Sundowns players are seriously injured, they must send medical reports to the Bafana team doctor.
“If the players are really injured, they [Sundowns] have to inform us. We have a doctor,” responded Broos.
“They know we have a doctor; they have the phone number of the doctor, so why don’t they call us and give us a medical report? They didn’t do it, so that means the players are fit. I’m very sorry, I can’t go on rumours of coach Rulani saying the players are injured; give me a medical report.”
“I’m very sorry, but I don’t like it when they go and tell the press — they have to call us and tell us [what is] the problem. They know we have a doctor, they have the phone number of the doctor, so why don’t they call us and give us a medical report. They didn’t do it, so for me they are fit. I expect the seven players of Mamelodi Sundowns here [Algeria] tonight in camp.”
Meanwhile, the two coaches have had a beef in the recent past when Mokwena argued that Broos doesn’t see the quality in Khuliso Mudau. The Sundowns right-back is the reigning DStv Premiership Defender of the Season but Broos mostly preferred Sekhukhune United’s Nyiko Mobbie.
On the other hand, the former Cameroon manager, Broos also overlooked Sundowns skipper Themba Zwane, saying he is old. However, Zwane’s kept on grinding the results for the league champions and also played a crucial role at AFCON as Bafana finished third with a bronze medal in Ivory Coast.
As things stand, it doesn’t seem the beef will end soon as Sundowns are gunning for the League, Nedbank, as well as the CAF Champions League titles. Bafana will now meet Andorra on Thursday night, 23:00 SA Time, and face the Algerians on Monday, 25 March at the same time.
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