In a birthday message dedicated to Dr. Patrice Motsepe, Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Rulani Mokwena suggested that the South African football fraternity does not appreciate the billionaire owner enough.
Sundowns' dominance of South African football has divided opinion in the country, with criticism from some quarters, including some PSL coaches, that their success on the pitch is due to their financial power.
There has been suggestions from fans on various media platforms, on the back of the Brazilians' record winning streak, that the PSL should look into introducing Financial Fair Play Regulations, used by UEFA to prevent clubs from spending more than they earn.
Read: Champions League Deadline Looms, No Pressure At Sundowns
However, Mokwena says those critics do not see the bigger picture of how Dr. Motsepe is keeping professional football alive in the country.
"South African football is in a space where, for sure there was a lot of hard work that was done by, a lot of credit needs to go to Dr. Khoza, Dr. Kaizer Motaung for the incredible work that they have done for South African football and to put it at the level it is at," Mokwena said in a press conference.
"But the life beat and the pulse at the moment, without the Motsepe Foundation, for sure if you look at PSL with regards to the clubs, talk whatever you wanna talk about financial fair play.
"It's (like) I go to Vardos (Themba Zwane's former amateur club) and take 'Mshishi', you don't pick 'Mshishi', you pay for 'Mshishi'. You don't go to Bloemfontein Celtic and pick Neo Maema, you pay for Neo Maema," he said.
Are you enjoying our new online stadium? SNL24.com is Soccer Laduma's new home. You'll not only get the best soccer news, but you will also be able to comment on articles, view other comments, save articles to read later and much more! SIGN UP for free and explore our new home!"There's a recipient of the funds and those funds go to generating some form of income to financially assist the clubs to stay afloat. Where is that coming from? It comes from the generosity of Dr. Patrice Motsepe."
The young tactician reiterated that Dr. Motsepe's financial contribution to South African football as a whole is overlooked and used the Motsepe Foundation sponsorship of the National First Division at the eleventh hour, as an example.
"You look at the National First Division, what is it called? It's called the Motsepe Foundation League now, who is behind that? When all the other businesses were saying, 'Hey, don't touch football at the moment' because financially we're not in that space.
"Who came out (to help)? It's Dr. Patrice Motsepe, Dr. Khoza said it himself, not me. I didn't say it. I'm not blowing his horn. Dr. Khoza said it himself that it took one phone call and he said, 'Go ahead'," Mokwena concluded.
You must be SIGNED IN to read and post comments.
