Sundowns co-coach Rhulani Mokwena reveals intentions for Saveedra

Sundowns co-coach Rhulani Mokwena revealed the intentions for Saveedra’s arrival after the team’s 2-0 win over Chippa United on Monday.

“Ja, we’re excited, excited by the profile of a very good player that comes into a very good team already,” Mokwena said on Monday, as quoted by iDiski Times.
“And we’re looking forward to inducting him into the processes in the work that we do. Saavedra, as you all know, played for Bolivia, in the qualifiers on Tuesday.
“He then had to work with regards to getting all the necessary travel documents, including COVID tests. He left Bolivia, went to Peru, and came to the Netherlands. So you’re talking about plus minus more than 20 hours in transit and in flight and traveling to South Africa, he arrives very, very late hours tomorrow.
“So when we resume for training on Wednesday, he would have just arrived and only have put his feet down on the South African land but we’re excited.
“Hopefully he’ll join us by Thursday, we’ll induct him into the club, we’ll work with regards to all the other medical procedures that need to be done and familiarise him with our training, the squad and the processes that happen with regards to our preparation, and then we will take it from there… Hopefully we can incorporate him into the matchday squad as quickly as possible, but we are very, very patient and excited,” he added.

Last month, his former club paid tribute to Saveedra in officially bidding him farewell.

“After almost 300 games and more than 50 goals with the light blue, today we say goodbye to Erwin Saavedra. Together we lived through immense joys and great moments,” a club statement read.
“We wish you the best of success in this new stage, Erwin. Thank you for everything! Bolivar will always be your home.”

Mokwena further explained what it took for the negotiations to be successful.

“A lot of work, extensive work, a lot of sleepless nights, you must understand it, trying to negotiate for Saavedra and the time difference between South Africa and Bolivia means a lot of our staff, senior management, Bra Stan, Yogesh, these were people that had to spend a lot of sleepless nights and early hours when most of us were sleeping, in trying to make sure that they recruit and conclude this deal.”