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Pitso: Rulani dropped me

Cape Town - Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane has expressed his disappointment at losing his assistant Rulani Mokwena to Orlando Pirates.

Mokwena, who is the son of Julius "KK" Sono, the nephew of Jomo Sono, and grandson of Eric Sono, and is regarded as Orlando Pirates royalty, joined the Soweto giants to work alongside new coach Milutin Sredojevic.

In interviews since the appointment, Mosimane has said he would never have been able to stand in Mokwena's way and block his move to the Buccaneers.

And the Brazilians boss has since revealed he felt let down by his coach leaving abruptly, and felt Mokwena should have given him fair warning.

"I think he should have warned me, because he knew probably at the end of the season that he was leaving," Mosimane was quoted by the SowetanLIVE website.

"I don't have ball-boys as assistant coaches. He had a specific role. Now it's like he's dropping me... that's what disappointed me, and I told him face to face. He left suddenly when he could have told me earlier."

He did, however, wish his former protege well at his new club, saying: "I have run my race and it's time he runs his race. He wanted to go there (to Pirates) because of family reasons and I respect that. I can't hold on to him merely because I promoted him (from youth to first team)."

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