Sundowns coach Mokwena quotes from Bible in defence of Mothobi Mvala

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Rulani Mokwena has come to the defence of Mothobi Mvala, who made another glaring error in their 0-0 African Football League (AFL) quarterfinal second-leg draw with Petro Atlético at Loftus on Tuesday night. 

Sundowns were forced to play for 88 minutes a man down after the Bafana Bafana defender was sent for an early shower inside two minutes for a professional foul. 

Referee Mustapha Ghorbal judged Mvala to have fouled advancing Petro Atlético attacker Tiago Leal, who had a good scoring opportunity as he had a clear sight at Sundowns goalkeeper Ronwen Williams' goal.

Fortunately, Mvala’s red card did not come back to haunt the Brazilians as they managed to hold on and progress to the semifinal against Egyptian giants Al Ahly.

The first leg is at Loftus on Sunday and the second leg in Cairo on October 1. 

“I have made far more costly mistakes in my life than Mothobi Mvala,” Mokwena said, before quoting from the Bible in defence of his player. 

“We will analyse and we will speak to him like we do with all the other players. I am sounding like a pastor today but the Bible says, forgive '[not] seven times [but] 77 times'. 

“If we genuinely say we love our players, the definition in the Bible of love is that it keeps no account of wrongs. So when I tell you I love my players, I genuinely do. 

“When we make mistakes, we analyse, check, we move on and try to improve. Mistakes are there like problems because they present opportunities. Not just for growth but for learning, finding solutions and getting better.” 

Mokwena pleaded with people not to judge Mvala for his mistakes. 

“All the other players who play for Mamelodi Sundowns will always get love from me and everybody associated with this football club. They will never be judged because if we start to judge, then we must be put into a space where we must be judged. 

“How many of us in this room can say we are spotless, clean or don’t have errors? We live in a society where we are quick to judge others and we forget how many mistakes we make ourselves. We are quick to judge other people, but exercise a bit of kindness.

“None of you [the media] can tell me you work for your publications and you have written the best articles every week, you have spelt correctly every single time, you have made deadline every single time, you have arrived at work on time every time, you have come to work sober every single time.” 

Sundowns' progression to the semis of the Confederation of African Football's inaugural AFL is hugely lucrative for the club.

The super-rich AFL boasts staggering prize money of $4m (R75m) for the winners, $3m (R57m) for the runners-up, $1.7m (R32m) for the semifinalists and $1m (R19m) for the quarterfinalists.