Rulani’s angry reaction a sign of immaturity

It is the same with careers, which is why most companies will want candidates with experience when they have openings.

The same applies to Orlando Pirates coach Rulani Mokwena, who showed his immaturity and a lack of experience with his outbursts after the recent Soweto Derby during which his team came second to Kaizer Chiefs.

I was left baffled that he would be so mad that his players were at the receiving end of some rough tackles – in fact it was just one tackle on Fortune Makaringe by Willard Katsande. But Mokwena made it out like his players were in a warzone where they were constantly under attack.

He seemed to have quickly and conveniently forgot that his player, Thembinkosi Lorch, escaped a red card just a week earlier when he deliberately stepped on Khama Billiat, whom he had wrestled down. I am not saying he should not protect his players and complain but it makes him look bad when he only sees wrong when done against him.

One thing he will learn with time is that he must not get angry during matches. Getting angry is a sign of weakness, a sign of someone who is failing at what they are trying to do.

I have reason to believe that given a chance now, he would not say some of the things that he said about Ernst Middendorp, who he has accused of being a bully who encourages his players to be thugs. He also called him a tourist.

His anger shifted our focus away from the gallant effort his team put forward on the day. Truthfully speaking, Pirates were just unlucky to be on the receiving end of that result. They could have easily won that game 6-3 on a good day.

But instead of people talking about that effort, what they were talking about is what he said in post-match TV interviews and also at the media conference later. Photos of him where he looks like he is crying are now circulating on social media as he is mocked and termed a cry baby.

But he will learn, hopefully. He seems to have a brilliant football mind and it would be a disaster if anger were to stall his progression.

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