‘Unacceptable’ – Sundowns coach defends Harambee Stars’ Mandela after boos from fans
Mameodi Sundowns head coach Rhulani Mokwena has defended Harambee Stars defender Brian Mandela, following boos from fans.
Onyango found himself a target of boos from the stands during their Premier Soccer League match against Sekhukhune United on Tuesday, April 23, at Loftus Versfeld Stadium.
Although the game ended in Masandawana's favour after they clinched a hard-fought 2-1 victory, Mandela, who has not been a consistent starter for the Brazilians, was the target of jeers after he conceded a penalty and committed a number of mistakes.
“We can never condone such behaviour because these guys are giving their best, and football is a game of mistakes.
“Some of the fans who are booing Brian 'Mandela' Onyango for his mistakes, if you were to follow them in their own professional space, you would pick up so many mistakes. So as human beings, why are we berated when we make mistakes?
"I make more mistakes than Brian 'Mandela' Onyango ever makes, but he knows that I love him and I support him. He has my backing 100% because he also protects me all the time,” Mokwena told the press in his post-match reaction.
Mokwena's warning
The multiple title-winning coach also warned fans against being overly ambitious and said that sometimes they will lose and other times they will win.
“I’ve said this before: empires don’t collapse, but they dilapidate bit by bit. We start taking small things for granted and the efforts of players for granted because we think we’re entitled to winning, and that is the demise of major football clubs.
"These players deserve so much more, and of course, they will make mistakes, and that’s what corrections are for,” he added.
Mandela and his teammates are close to defending their PSL title and enjoying an unbeaten run of 22 games.
“We showed the strength of a chameleon because we absorbed pressure and suffered when we needed to. We were potent and very aggressive when we needed to.
“I’m very proud of the players because we used the right tempo. We were fast at the right time and slow at the right time. When the game asked us to suffer, we suffered, so I’m proud of the effort of everybody.
“We beat a good side, and I even said to their coach that he has a good team, and I wish him everything the best going forward. I congratulated him for winning coach of the month because it was well deserved," the coach concluded.
Should the Pretoria giants conquer the season, they will lift a record-extending seventh successive league title.
