Marumo Gallants head coach Ronnie Kanalelo has opened up about the emotional experience of returning to Mamelodi Sundowns, admitting that revisiting the club brought back memories of an important chapter in his professional football career.

The Namibian coach spent almost nine years at Chloorkop, having joined the Brazilians in 1997 before departing at the beginning of 2006. Sundowns were the only professional club he represented during his playing career, making his return particularly meaningful.

Speaking about the occasion, Kanalelo admitted that walking back into familiar surroundings naturally stirred emotions, especially considering the amount of time he spent at the Pretoria-based club.

"I'm emotional about it, I only had one professional team in my career, I spent a lot of time here, coming in 1997, I left here in the beginning of 2006 – so that's a long time, of course when you come here, you feel something," Kanalelo said, as quoted by iDiski Times.

The former goalkeeper also revealed that seeing the stadium and recognising familiar faces among the supporters reminded him of the memorable moments he experienced while wearing the Sundowns jersey.

"You look at the stadium, remember the good games here, some of the same fans are still around," he added.

During his time with Sundowns, Kanalelo was part of a successful period in the club's history, winning three league titles alongside other domestic honours. He also represented Namibia at the 1998 Africa Cup of Nations, establishing himself as an important figure in his country's football history.

However, despite his emotional connection to the Brazilians, Kanalelo insisted that his professional responsibilities now lie with Marumo Gallants.

"It's the game of football, I'm in a different space now and that's where I have to give me all, it's about being a professional," he explained.

Kanalelo was appointed Gallants head coach in September 2026 following the departure of Phuti Mohafe. His immediate responsibility is to improve the club's performances and help the team achieve better results.

Although Sundowns will always hold a special place in his heart, the Namibian tactician remains focused on building a successful future with Gallants.

Source:

https://x.com/iDiskiTimes/status/2116496562570359268?a=FgDoa3kG7l5xOlYpNtM&s=19