Cape Town - Former South African Sevens captain Jonathan Mokuena says the Lions will make the "biggest mistake" in the history of South African rugby" if they allow John Mitchell back as coach.
Suspended coach Mitchell is set to return as coach of the embattled union after he was found not guilty of all complaints of misconduct levelled against him.
The Lions on Thursday confirmed to the Associated Press that Mitchell will meet with management on Friday "to discuss the way forward".
Loose forward Mokuena, who had a brief spell under Mitchell at the Lions from 2010-2011, feels caretaker coach Johann Ackermann is a better option.
According to the Rugby 365 website he called the Kiwi a "demon" who treats players like "animals".
"We (the players) are humans, not animals. We are adults. You don't curse and swear adults who are married and already have children - that is not how you treat people.
"Johan Ackermann is a great person and he knows how to work with adults."
Although Mokuena left the Lions before their successful Currie Cup campaign in 2011, he confirmed that he had experienced the same unpleasantness that resulted in misconduct charges being laid against Mitchell by the players.
"I wasn't part of the current complaints against him. By then I had already returned to Griquas.
"The environment for me just wasn't right.
"Obviously he didn't rate me as a player, but I experienced this all during my time at the Lions."
Mokuena also lashed out at Mitchell on Twitter.
"That will be the biggest mistake in the history of SA rugby if you allow that demon back into the lions....," one of Mokuena's tweets read.
Mokuena, 31, played in almost 30 tournaments on the IRB Sevens World Series and captained the Blitzbokke for a season.
Suspended coach Mitchell is set to return as coach of the embattled union after he was found not guilty of all complaints of misconduct levelled against him.
The Lions on Thursday confirmed to the Associated Press that Mitchell will meet with management on Friday "to discuss the way forward".
Loose forward Mokuena, who had a brief spell under Mitchell at the Lions from 2010-2011, feels caretaker coach Johann Ackermann is a better option.
According to the Rugby 365 website he called the Kiwi a "demon" who treats players like "animals".
"We (the players) are humans, not animals. We are adults. You don't curse and swear adults who are married and already have children - that is not how you treat people.
"Johan Ackermann is a great person and he knows how to work with adults."
Although Mokuena left the Lions before their successful Currie Cup campaign in 2011, he confirmed that he had experienced the same unpleasantness that resulted in misconduct charges being laid against Mitchell by the players.
"I wasn't part of the current complaints against him. By then I had already returned to Griquas.
"The environment for me just wasn't right.
"Obviously he didn't rate me as a player, but I experienced this all during my time at the Lions."
Mokuena also lashed out at Mitchell on Twitter.
"That will be the biggest mistake in the history of SA rugby if you allow that demon back into the lions....," one of Mokuena's tweets read.
Mokuena, 31, played in almost 30 tournaments on the IRB Sevens World Series and captained the Blitzbokke for a season.