Rulani: My emotions hit the roof top against Pirates

Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Rulani Mokwena has admitted that he transforms into a different coach when playing against Orlando Pirates. 

Sundowns will re-open their DStv Premiership campaign when they host rivals Pirates on Saturday evening at Loftus Versfeld Stadium. 

After Mokwena's two-year stint at the Sea Robbers, firstly as an assistant coach and caretaker coach, matches involving Sundowns, with the 37-year-old on the bench against the Soweto giants have become more emotionally charged.

Mokwena admitted that he would have to keep his emotions in check, as the fixture against Pirates triggers his emotions the most.

"The good thing is I always ask the players just before we play Pirates, 'Forgive me', even before we start, I ask them, 'Forgive me' because I know my emotions hit the roof top," Mokwena said in a press conference.  

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"So I'm not the same coach when we prepare for Pirates and they know that because they know me very well. Unfortunately, it's one of those games where there's far too much to it and it's very difficult to become less emotional.

"There's still people at the club that I fully respect and I like, the Chairman (Irvin Khoza) will always be someone who is very special to me and the club itself from a family perspective, it's a club that's got so many connotations to my family and what some of the members of family are today is because of Orlando Pirates," he added.

Sundowns will be looking to redeem themselves after they went on a mini slump before the Afcon break, with back-to-back goalless draws against Cape Town City and Polokwane City. 

However, the unbeaten Brazilians are still comfortable, nine points clear at the top of