Mamelodi Sundowns coach Rulani Mokwena says he expects Kaizer Chiefs to offer them a guard of honour when they face off in the DStv Premiership but insists it’s not a requirement.
Sundowns are likely to receive a guard of honour in their final four league games after wrapping up their fifth consecutive league title on Wednesday evening and Chiefs’ fixture on 8 May will likey see the Soweto giants offer them their respects after the latest historic honour.
Chiefs interim coach Arthur Zwane already confirmed that they offer the record 12-time PSL champions the honour saying Amakhosi would ‘give them the credit they deserve’.
And Mokwena said he expects nothing less from a club of their principles that’s played a pivotal role in the level of professionalism South African football has reached over the last few decades
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“I have to be very careful because it’s a sensitive space. Kaizer Chiefs are an important club for South African history and for the level of football that we have and we have to be respectful about the club,” Mokwena said on Thursday at Chloorkop.
“Particularly because Ntate Kaizer Motaung is one of the major reasons we have the NSL and the PSL, but I think as a professional club and I will go back to when they won the league title Sundowns did a guard of honour, I remember.
“They were coaches by Stuart Baxter if I’m not mistaken and Sundowns did give a guard of honour. I do expect, because of what I know about the club and the people at the club, the values and the principles that they carry and professionalism from a sportsmanship perspective, I would expect they would do that but of course, it’s not a must.
“Therefore if they do or don’t do it, it shouldn’t matter, what’s important is that we tried to guard against trying to cause animosity and rivalry that doesn’t exist off the pitch. We shouldn’t shun the efforts and immense contributions Chiefs has had on South African football.”
Sundowns face Royal AM in the Nedbank Cup semi-finals on Saturday before Sekhukhune United on Tuesday, then travel next Sunday to FNB Stadium to face Chiefs on their home ground.
