Sundowns head coach Rulani Mokwena. Picture: Instagram by Katlego Mokubyane for Nounouche Magazine
Mamelodi Sundowns coach Rulani Mokwena is the talk of the town after a striking shoot for Nounouche magazine that showed the coach in a way that most soccer fans have never seen him before.
In the cover shoot, styled by Lesego Kgosimolao (popularly known as Kgosi Lesego) the coach showed off his chiselled features and stunning skin in some of the latest men’s fashion.
There is also a shirtless portrait of Coach Rulani with his eyes closed and this particular photo has been shared numerous times in discussions about what a coach should and should not do.
“Rulani is a coach, yet he’s moving like a footballer who is a superstar. You just can’t hate on such moves. I just wish for our players to realise that they don’t only have to depend on their football careers in order to make money,” tweeted @Lucky_Mthombeni.
“I love Rulani mina but this is disappointing. Where has he seen a coach do this. He wants to be superstar. He competes with players for limelight,” lamented @NoContextKhanye.
In recent months, he has been hailed for achieving the feat of being appointed head coach of South Africa’s most celebrated football club Mamelodi Sundowns at only 35 years of age.
He spoke to Nounouche magazine’s Bonnie Meslane about his achievement, his upbringing and his love for the beautiful game.
While he said he owes his character to the matriarchs who raised him, his mother Linda Mokwena and his grandmother, he also comes from a rich legacy of football.
His father, Julius Sono, uncle Jomo Sono and grandfather Eric ‘Scara’ Sono have all built a legacy and made an impact on South African football and while their reputations precede them, their talent also lives on in him.
Read the full feature here.
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