Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Rulani Mokwena's agent, Steve Kapeluschnik, has opened up on his client's last-minute decision not to board a plane with former coach Pitso Mosimane and his entourage to join Al Ahly.
MT Sports Director Moira Tlhagale, Mosimane's agent and wife, revealed in a testimony at the Johannesburg High Court that Mokwena was part of the technical team from Sundowns that was supposed to leave with the former Bafana Bafana coach for Al Ahly in October 2020 but was made aware of Mokwena's decision to remain behind two hours before they boarded the plane, as reported by Sunday World.
Sundowns and Mosimane are in a court dispute following the Tshwane giants' demand that he pay back a commission in agent's fees believed to be around R8,6 million, which were paid upfront.
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The multiple title-winning coach left the Brazilians to join the Red Devils four months after signing a new four-year contract.
One of the big revelations from Tlhagale's testimony was that what influenced Mokwena to stay behind was the promise to become the head coach at Sundowns.
The 37-year-old tactician was eventually made co-coach alongside Manqoba Mngqithi and only became head coach following a technical team reshuffle in October 2022.
At the COSAFA Awards ceremony, where he won Coach of the Year, Mokwena told journalists that he did not regret not joining Mosimane at Al Ahly, though has not had time to process that watershed moment in his career four years ago.
The tactician's agent, Kapeluschnik, has now responded, saying it was Mokwena's decision to stay behind at Sundowns, as he has always believed in himself.
"Ja, well, we know about that (decision not to join Mosimane to Al Ahly). Obviously, he wanted to stay at Sundowns. That was his decision. Obviously, I mean, look how well he's done, how can you regret that decision?" Kapeluschnik said, speaking exclusively to KickOff.com.
"I mean, he has always believed in himself and that's what he decided to do."
With Mokwena as a head coach, Sundowns have won two league titles and the inaugural African Football League.
The Brazilians, under the former Orlando Pirates assistant, are yet to lose a league match in 19-and-a-half months and could become the first side in the history of South African football to go the entire league season unbeaten.
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Sundowns, with Mokwena as head coach, have now eclipsed a PSL record tally of points set by the team under Mosimane in the 2015/16 season after beating Stellenbosch FC on Saturday.
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