Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Rulani Mokwena has revealed that he contacted both Hugo Broos and Sead Ramovic after they had somewhat attacked him publicly in recent months.
Ramovic had launched a scathing attack on Mokwena ahead of his side’s Carling Knockout Cup semi-final against AmaZulu, saying he felt disrespected by comments Mokwena after the two sides met in the Carling Cup when Mokwena had several Bafana Bafana players unavailable.
Meanwhile, Bafana Bafana coach Broos had called Mokwena the “South Africa Mourinho” in an interview in his home country before his return to Mzansi ahead of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
Mokwena has now addressed both those comments in his Nedbank Cup press conference, saying he called both Ramovic and Broos to raise his displeasure about their public attacks.
“You are all familiar of some of the things that my colleague at TS Galaxy has said and I picked up the phone and I called him, direct and I raised my displeasure,” he said.
“There were things said by Hugo Broos and I picked up the phone and I called him, direct and I raised my displeasure.
“What was said in those conversations is not for the public. If they feel they’ve got to disclose that, it’s what they feel. I’m not that type of person and I will not be dragged into those type of situations.
“As first I respect my family and I was raised in a certain way, when I sit in a public space and I talk to the media I must understand that I don’t just represent myself, I represent my family and the upbringing and education they gave me.
“And I also represent the Football Club and it’s a club that has high moral standards, so it’s important that you have that respect, not just for yourself but also the people who raised you, and for the people that look after you and the people you serve, then you’ve got to behave in a certain manner.
“I don’t want to go in that space. And in fact, I was one person that was taught to forgive even the wrongs that I never apologised for, and I’m that type of person, I move on very quickly.
“And I address issues direct, I don’t go to the media, I don’t go and create a mudsling, I pick up the phone and address those things and fortunately coach Hugo Broos did apologise and explained what had happened.
“For me after that conversation we had before AFCON it was done.”