Young Africans coach Miguel Angel Gamondi has explained why he was emotional after a reunion with Mamelodi Sundowns Rulani Mokwena.
Gamondi, 60, has vast experience of Sundowns, having coached them to the PSL title in 2006/07 alongside Neil Tovey before later coaching Platinum Stars between 2007 and 2009.
It was at Platinum Stars where Gamondi’s path first cross with Mokwena, who was a youth at Dinaledi at the time.
Ahead of their clash in the CAF Champions League quarter-final first leg in Tanzania on Saturday (20:00 SAST), Gamondi says he was impressed with Mokwena’s rise and having played a small role in his journey, too.
“I know from long time ago,” he told journalists.
“I’m very happy and impressed with his development because when I was coaching Platinum Stars he was coaching in the youth development.
“I was very happy and emotional now to greet him on his way out, but it is no challenge – I’m very happy to meet him but Sundowns as well.
“Don’t forget I coached Sundowns, I was champion with Sundowns in 2006 and for me the challenge is to give all our best for Yanga. It’s not a special game for that. No, no.
“But I repeat I’m very happy when I see a young coach like him progress and how good he is doing and probably in one moment I helped him a little bit in his career.”