‘I’ll be very happy after the match’: Rulani divided over loyalty for Sundowns/Pirates
Soccer Bullet | 10.10.2026 10:21
Mokwena, who has coached both teams, claims he will be a happy man on Saturday after the final whistle.
The two giants of South African football, clash at the Moses Mabhida on Saturday evening,
“It’s very difficult for me to decide who I think will win, but I’ll be very happy at the end, for sure,” Mokwena told SAFJA members.
“At the end of the game, I’ll be very happy because if Sundowns win, I would be very, very happy. And if Orlando Pirates win, I will be very, very happy too, ” said the former Sundowns head coach.
Rulani coached both Sundowns and Pirates
Mokwena was assistant coach in the late 2010s at Downs before moving to Orlando Pirates where he was promoted head coach for a short stint. He returneed to Sundowns and in 2022, he was made head coach, winning several league titles.
The 39-year-old coach said the only time he was against both teams, was when he was on the opposing bench.
“The only time I don’t want Pirates or Sundowns to win is when I’m sitting, and I’m competing on the opposite bench. That’s the only time,” Mokwena added.
“When I was at Pirates, I wanted to win every time against Sundowns, even though I am a Sundowns fan. When I was at Sundowns, when we played Pirates, I wanted to win every time we played against them, even though I’m an Orlando Pirates fan.”
