Many were taken aback in the current off-season when Mamelodi Sundowns announced the decision to part ways with coach Rulani Mokwena.
After winning the DStv Premiership in dominant fashion, the club opted to relieve Mokwena of his duties, with reports in local media claiming not winning the CAF Champions League led to the decision.
In additions, rumours of a squabble with the club Sporting director Flemming Berg surfaced over a range of issues from player recruitments, style of play, though Mokwena hasn't been out in the cold.
The ambitious 37-year-old boss has since signed for Moroccan giants Wydad Casablanca on a three-year deal, but Soccer Laduma has now looked at his biggest wins in charge of Masandawana.
1 . Sundowns 5-2 Al Ahly – 11 March 2023
CAF Champions League Group B - In his maiden season in charge following the dismantling of the co-coach agreement, Mokwena led the club in the Champions League group stages and came across the tournament record-holders Ahly. On this day though, the team didn't disappoint and romped to victory with goals from Marcelo Allende, Themba Zwane, Teboho Mokoena and a brace from Peter Shalulile.
2. NB La Masia 1-6 Sundowns – 20 February 2024
Sundowns, who looked to reclaim the Nedbank Cup having lost it to Orlando Pirates the season before, got the ground running against then Motsepe Foundation Championship side La Masia out in Dobsonville. A hat-trick from Gaston Sirino was complemented by goals from Matias Esquivel, Terrence Mashego and Lebohang Maboe.
3. Kaizer Chiefs 1- 5 Sundowns – 02 May 2024
With the team still unbeaten in the DStv Premiership, the Brazilians were the team to the beat and faced Chiefs team desperate to break the shackles. However, the Amakhosi couldn't reach that mark as the Brazilians remained unbeaten after a five-goal blitz in the second half with a brace from Tashreeq Matthews and one effort each from Matias Esquivel, Lucas Ribeiro Costa and Thembinkosi Lorch doing the damage as the club clinched a seventh successive title too
4. Sundowns 4-1 Chabab Belouizdad – 22 April 2023
Having stormed through the group stages, up next for Mokwena and co were Algerian side Belouizdad in the quarter-finals first-leg. The North Africans proved no match though after a Shalulile brace and goals from Neo Maema and Cassius Mailula did the business in the nation's capital city.
5. Maritzburg United 0-5 Sundowns – 25 October 2022
Mokwena had just been appointed the sole coach at the time and was tasked to rekindle the scintillating brand of football the club had become accustomed to displaying. A trip down to Pietermaritzburg were a way to get it across and Mokwena answered the call aided by a brace each from Haashim Domingo and Mailula followed by Thapelo Morena's effort - ensuring a five-star display.
