SAFA’s chief medical doctor Thulani Ngwenya has hit back at Rulani Mokwena after the Mamelodi Sundowns co-head coach had criticised the national team setup.
The Masandawana coach had a go at Bafana and the communication between the national team and the clubs after Downs had problems when their players returned with injuries or fatigued from Bafana.
Bafana coach Hugo Broos already stated that Mokwena’s comments were “not appropriate” and “surprised” him before Ngwenya now also stated his disappointment with the remarks.
“First, I am disappointed that technical people are discussing medical matters,” he told TimesLIVE.
“I am disappointed (because) it means the technical people at Sundowns are also not communicating with the medical department (at the club), if any. But I have spoken personally to both Dr Carl Tabane and Dr Paul Maphoto (member of Sundowns medical team) regarding their players.
“I have seen a report that was sent by Dr Tshepo Molobi. He copied me because he copies me on all correspondences that have to do with medical. It was sent to Mamelodi Sundowns. It is just unfortunate.”
Ngwenya even went further and said that Mokwena’s comments were “defamation of character” because he was questioning the professionally of the national team setup.
“If you remember last year, we visited all the clubs with (former Bafana coach) Molefi Ntseki,” he added.
“I mean, why now are we all of a sudden not communicating? What I would really ask is that technical people must leave medical matters to medical people. They must not use medical people when they have got their own issues to deal with, because it is unfortunate.
“When dealing with medical matters you deal with sensitive issues and there are (things) we cannot say in the media because of the ethical code governing us. So it is unfortunate that you have a technical person who would speak so badly about another professional.
“It is demeaning and it is also defamation of character, because it is saying that you are not professional. I am not happy with that.
“So it is just disappointing when you get a coach (Mokwena) saying such things.
“It seems as if we are not professional and it is unfortunate. I have been at Bafana for 10 years now and Sundowns have had coaches, and the previous coach (Pitso Mosimane) before the current coaches (Mokwena, Manqoba Mngqithi and Steve Komphela), have never complained that we do not give them reports.”
TimesLIVE also report that SAFA’s leadership and Sundowns are expected to meet to iron out their differences, with both parties expressing their disappointment over certain things via the media recently.
