Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Rulani Mokwena refused to be drawn in on the comparisons of their transfer budget to the giants of Africa and the DStv Premiership clubs.
Mokwena simply stated he’s not aware of the spending that goes on to lure players to Chloorkop, nor how much their contracts are worth, suggesting he’s just there to coach players for football matches.
The question was directed on the criticism around their spending power compared to their domestic rivals, something that was reopened when Sead Ramovic suggested they spent R150-millon on players over two consecutive seasons.
However, in North Africa, specifically, amongst the elite clubs, that sort of spending has become common amongst the likes of Al Ahly, Pyramids and Zamalek over the past decade, although the latter has fallen into financial ruin of late.
Wydad and Raja Athletic Club have also been embroiled in major financial turmoil in recent seasons, while CR Belouizdad has become a driving force in Algerian football due to their financial muscle – although they have yet to show their capabilities of challenging for the Champions League title yet.
“This is the truth, I’m going to be honest, I don’t know how much we are spending, no seriously,” Mokwena said when asked about their criticism of spending.
“I can’t answer that question, because really, I don’t know we pay for transfer, I don’t know how much people are earning on their contracts.
“It’s a part of the football club that doesn’t sit on my table and I’m fortunate that I own only Black Poison and there we only fetch a player when we see them, we fetch and we fetch.
“I’m not in a position to answer that question because I don’t know, I really don’t know, I don’t know the budget of Al Ahly, the budget of Wydad or Sundowns’ budget either.
When posed that the FIFA Global Transfer Report for 2023 has them in the top 10 for highest spenders on the continent he stated jokingly: “We will get Flemming Berg to sit here, that falls under his position.”
Sundowns take on five-time African champions Mazembe on Saturday afternoon at the Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium at 15h00.
