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Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues below<ul><li>Rhulani Mokwena opens up about criticism</li><li>He speaks about love and hate in football</li><li>The Downs coach advanced to the Caf CL on Saturday</li></ul><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script>

Rhulani Mokwena opens up about his love & hate relationship in football, sends a message to those who loathe him & PSL defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns

Premier Soccer League

Stellenbosch FC

Mamelodi Sundowns FC

Part of being a prominent football figure on the African continent includes being levelled with criticism, whether due or unfairly so, along with showers of praise.Effectively, you are always under the spotlight, and Downs head coach Mokwena is not exempt from this.Mokwena told members of the media that he welcomes criticism, having admitted that since being named the sole head coach at Downs, he has had to find a different way to absorb criticism.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Mokwena recently celebrated 40 games unbeaten in the PSL when his side thumped AmaZulu 3-0 before he guided Downs to yet another knockout phase of the Caf Champions League.Sundowns beat TP Mazembe 1-0 this past Saturday to reach the quarter-finals of Africa's most prestigious club knockout competition.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

"I say to the players ‘be careful of praise’, it’s like being fed honey with a knife and that’s where I look around once people start to praise me," <a href="https://youtu.be/exXvvXrE8pk?si=9C5NI-S_4gPh4LI7" target="_blank">Mokwena told members of the media</a>."I look around because before they kill you, they punch you, punch you and punch you. I’d rather have people who come straight and show that they hate me, or they hate the team, that’s much better."It’s much better because praise sometimes puts you in a sense where you believe too much in hype. So, I don’t listen too much to praise. I prefer criticism and hate. Being hated drives me; it makes me want to prove a point."So, I don’t listen to that too much. But I appreciate it; I accept it with a lot of humanity. But I’m not too much into it because it’s dangerous, very, very dangerous," he added.

WHAT WAS SAID

<a href="https://www.goal.com/en-za/lists/caf-champions-league-group-stage-format-results-prize-money-and-everything-you-need-to-know/blt4f3e756de75aba6c" target="_blank">Sundowns will now await the draw of the Champions League quarter-finals </a>where their opponents will be revealed.Sundowns will play one of Simba, Esperance or Young Africans as they avoided rivals Al Ahly, Petro Atletico and ASEC Mimosas.

WHAT'S NEXT?

Rhulani Mokwena opens up about his love & hate relationship in football, sends a message to those who loathe him & PSL defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns | Goal.com South Africa

Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Rhulani Mokwena has opened up about his feelings relating to the criticism he receives.

Rhulani Mokwena opens up about his love &amp; hate relationship in football, sends a message to those who loathe him &amp; PSL defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns

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