Mamelodi Sundowns coach Rulani Mokwena heaped praise on Kaizer Chiefs’ coach, Cavin Johnson, ahead of their crucial league clash on Thursday (19:30).

Sundowns, leading the DStv Premiership by 10 points with three games in hand ahead of second placed Stellenbosch FC, can secure their seventh consecutive title with a win at FNB Stadium and six games to spare.

While securing the title at Chiefs’ backyard would be a feat, Mokwena prioritizes the overall achievement. “I think just winning the title will be very sweet because it’s an impressive competition for us, it’s an important season so I haven’t really thought about it in that sense,” said Mokwena  

Mokwena revealed a close past with Johnson. “I’ve got a very soft spot for coach Johnson. In fact, I and Johnson were once so close when he was head of youth at Platinum Stars that we almost spoke on the daily,” shared Mokwena.

Despite Chiefs’ mid-table position and struggles scoring goals, Mokwena promises respect. “We’re playing a very big team, one of our arch-rivals,” he asserted. “We’ll approach the game with humility and a lot of respect.”

On injuries, Mokwena expressed concern about Bongani Zungu’s deep cut sustained during the TS Galaxy game on Monday. “It breaks my heart,” he said, offering no further details.