SEAD Ramovic could well have been throwing a jab at “Mr Sunshine”.
At the launch of the 2024/25 MTN8 in Johannesburg on Wednesday, the TS Galaxy coach heaped praises on his Stellenbosch FC counterpart Steve Barker ahead of their quarter-final clash at the Danie Craven Stadium on Sunday.
But in doing so, the Serb seemed to be making a veiled insinuation that the coach he loves to hate – former Mamelodi Sundowns coach Rulani Mokwena whom he has nicknamed Mr Sunshine for reasons he is yet to explain – should not have been voted the best for the previous campaign.
“I always said that I like the coach from the opponent a lot. In my view, he was actually the Coach of the Season,” he said, to great laughter from the gathered newshounds, who clearly cottoned on to what Ramovic was actually implying, “It is just my opinion. What he did is just amazing.”
Barker was a finalist for the coach of the season award, which was won by Mokwena whose team nearly went unbeaten all season – Sundowns only losing once in 30 matches, that defeat coming on the final day of the season against Cape Town City.
Ramovic and Mokwena had a cold relationship throughout the season which was birthed following The Rockets’ penalty shootout defeat of the Brazilians in the Carling Knockout in which Bongani Zungu broke Bernard Parker’s leg.
Though Mokwena has since left the local league for Morocco where he is in charge of Wydad Casablanca, it would appear Ramovic is not over the rivalry which could have been rekindled had the former goalkeeper joined Raja Casablanca.
He has remained with Galaxy though and is looking to help the club reach yet another final this season despite their having again lost key players.
“It’s a beautiful opportunity. It is a great thing to also be in the Top 8.
“It will be great to play against a great team. We played against them (Stellenbosch, last season) and it was always very tough games,” Ramovic said, referring to their league clashes and Carling Knockout final defeat to the team from the Winelands
“It will be a tough one. We are also preparing ourselves and hopefully this time we can win.”
He is encouraged by the kind of build-up to the new campaign that his team had in which they played some pretty competitive matches.
“I think we had a great pre-season,” Ramovic said.
“We played against good opponents, and we got our match fitness. All the things we tried to implement, the players understood quick and fast. They are very great players and it is a pleasure to work with them.
“So, expectations for ourselves are there. We want to get as far as we can so we can have another amazing story if we reach the final.”
Galaxy had their best ever elite league season in the previous campaign during which they had their best ever finish (sixth place), reaching the Carling Knockout final. They were knocked out of the Nedbank Cup at the quarter-final stage.
This time around, Ramovic would like to see his team doing well in the season opening tournament they are playing in for the first time. And he would love nothing more than to start the campaign by beating a coach he believes should have been given the Coach of the Season award over his adversary – “Mr Sunshine” Mokwena.