Mamelodi Sundowns Boss Mokwena Claims Prize as DStv Premiership Coach of the Month

• Mamelodi Sundowns' Rulani Mokwena has been named Coach of the Month for April
• Chippa United's Sinoxolo Kwayiba clinched the accolade as the Player of the Month
• Asekho Tiwani's stunner versus Cape Town Spurs was voted the Goal of the Month

Mamelodi Sundowns head coach, Rulani Mokwena, has won the DStv Premiership Coach of the Month for April.

Having steered the Brazilians to their seventh consecutive league title with six games to spare, he clinched the award for the second time this season.

Mokwena's commendation follows Masandawana's stellar performances in April, defeating Richards Bay, Cape Town Spurs, Sekhukhune United, and TS Galaxy.

Despite juggling league duties with domestic fixtures and the CAF Champions League, Sundowns maintained a competitive edge, featuring in nine matches throughout the month, per Times Live.

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Noteworthy among their exploits was a Nedbank Cup quarter-final triumph over Pretoria University FC on penalties and a commendable Champions League quarter-final victory over Tanzania's Young Africans.

The Premier Soccer League (PSL) stated that Mokwena clinched the award after securing the most votes among his contenders, which included Orlando Pirates' Jose Rivieiro, Stellenbosch FC's Steve Barker, and Chippa United's co-coaches Kwanele Kopo and Thabo September.

On the other hand, Chippa United striker, Sinoxolo Kwayiba, clinched the Player of the Month accolade. He has been in exceptional form, scoring four consecutive goals in games against Cape Town Spurs, Kaizer Chiefs, and SuperSport United.

Sekhukhune United's Asekho Tiwani won the Goal of the Month award for an intelligent lob that secured a crucial 1-0 victory against Cape Town Spurs.

Meanwhile, under mounting pressure to secure the continental title, Mokwena stressed the arduous nature of continental football, drawing parallels to Pitso Mosimane's four-year journey to clinch the trophy.

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"I was an assistant coach to the previous coach [Mosimane] for a very long time, and the last coach was here for eight years. We only played the semi-final two times because the other time, we got into the final. But after that, in eight years, we only played the semi-final once and lost," he said, as reported by The South African.

Mokwena still hurt by Champions League exit

Sports Brief reported that Mokwena was still hurt by Sundowns' defeat in the CAF Champions League defeat at the hands of Esperance.

He stated that claiming the treble this season would not make up for the disappointment of exiting in the semi-finals of the tournament.

Mokwena believes that adding another trophy to the Sundowns collection will not erase the pain of their loss on the continental stage.