Mamelodi Sundowns coach Rulani Mokwena has offered words of support to Kaizer Chiefs counterpart Molefi Ntseki, who has been under pressure at the club.
Molefi Ntseki have has a bad start to his first season as head coach at Chiefs having already lost four of the nine DStv Premiership games.
They are sitting in seventh place on the log standings after nine matches, 13 points behind leaders Mamelodi Sundowns, who have played a game less.
In addition Chiefs have already been knocked out of a cup competition: the MTN8 in the semi-final stage by Mokwena’s troops – Sundowns.
The Soweto giants’ fans have been on Ntseki’s case, calling for the management to shown the coach the exit door.
The club’s faithful already expressed their frustration in an unruly matter by throwing objects at the former Bafana Bafana on three separate occasions this season.
THE SUN WILL SHINE AGAIN FOR NTSEKI, SAYS RULANI
Mokwena was asked about Ntseki’s hardships at Chiefs as he replaced Arthur Zwane as head coach at the beggig of the campaign and he said: “There is an empathetic sense because we have the same profession.
“I am sure he will learn and grow from these situations. Today it is him, tomorrow it is another coach and it could even be me. That’s why you must have some form of empathy and some feeling, but this is our profession and this is what we signed up for.
“Some people say it with eloquent English that when you pray for the sun, be prepared for the rain and when the rain comes, be prepared to deal with the mud.
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“That’s our profession. We pray to be head coaches of big clubs and when you are head of a big club, you have to be prepared to deal with uncomfortable situations.”
Rulani Mokwena understands the pressure of coaching a top club. The Soweto-born tactician was in a similar situation as caretaker coach at Orlando Pirates in 2019 with results not going his way.
Ntseki has been tasked with ending Chiefs’ long trophy drought and the club has backed up him with a few top signings
“I know because I have been there . I am not talking out of lack of experience of what he is going through. God loves us all and I am sure the sun will shine again for him,” he added.
“He is more experienced than me, he has seen more of these situations than I have and I should be the last person to give him advice.”