POLL | Will Sundowns collapse without Rulani Mokwena?

Problems in the Mamelodi Sundowns camp were laid bare for all to see this week as coach Rulani Mokwena was a no-show for the team's preseason camp training.

TimesLIVE reported Mokwena and his assistants Michael Loftman and Sinethemba Badela did not report for the team’s first training session at Chloorkop on Tuesday.

The coach was also not at the University of Pretoria’s High-Performance Centre on Monday where Downs' players did their medicals in preparation for preseason.

Tensions at Chloorkop have been pinned on Mokwena being at loggerheads with the team's technical director Flemming Berg.

Mokwena developed a winning momentum with his players dominating Bafana Bafana squads. As the sole head coach, Mokwena has led Downs to their sixth and seventh DStv Premiership titles, setting a new 16-team points record of 73 last campaign.

He reached successive Caf Champions League semifinals and won the inaugural African Football League (AFL) last campaign. Highlights for Mokwena at Sundowns were winning the AFL where they beat Moroccan rivals Wydad Casablanca and wrapping up the season's Premiership title with six matches to spare.

Winning the league in 2023-2024, the Brazilians came close to becoming South Africa's “Invincibles” as they lost only one game over the season, on the final day of the season away to Cape Town City.