Rulani Mokwena Looks Forward to Bringing Glory Back to Wydad Casablanca

It was an unexpected turn of events at the end of the 2023/24 season when Mamelodi Sundowns announced that they would be parting ways with their former head coach Rulani Mokwena.

It was a successful season for the Pretoria outfit, who won the Inaugural African Football League tournament and the DStv (now Betway) Premiership. However, in Sundowns’ statement, the reason for Mokwena’s hasty exit was that the targets set out by the club were not met and parting ways was the best option moving forward.

Now having moved on to seemingly greener pastures in Morocco, a month ago the South African tactician was unveiled as the head coach of Wydad Casablanca, marking a new era in his already stunning career.

It was always going to happen…

Speaking exclusively to SportsBoom.com, Mokwena alluded to the fact that his departure from the Brazilians was inevitable, as he dropped hints in his press conferences about his struggles but it is only a few people who picked up that the end of the road was imminent.

“To me it wasn’t a surprise to be honest with you. There were a lot of people close to me who can tell you that even though I feel like it was a bit premature and that we could have gone on to do a lot more, but as a person there’s certain things that you can feel,” said Mokwena about leaving his former club.

Scrapping the sabbatical and going to the next level

In a plot twist of events, Moroccan club Wydad Casablanca posted on their social media accounts that the 37-year-old has been appointed head coach. Following the news that Mokwena would no longer be with the DStv Premiership champions, there had been rumours that he would be taking a sabbatical before committing to another coaching position.

“The sabbatical I thought about quite extensively, but I’m 37, you know? Why should I take a sabbatical?,” Mokwena joked when asked by SportsBoom.com about why he decided against taking an extended leave and taking the job in North Africa instead.

Image Credits: Ayman Aref/NurPhoto via Getty Images

“I’m only beginning my career. I’m fortunate enough that I can say that I’ve coached three incredible football clubs on the African continent, and I’ve forged a career where I don’t think I was given anything on a silver platter,” he added on a more serious note.