Rulani Mokwena has explained why he has moved all the way across the continent to become the new head coach of Moroccan giants Wydad Casablanca.
Mokwena was unveiled as the club’s new coach on Thursday, a little over a week after he was unceremoniously dumped by Mamelodi Sundowns after guiding them to a seventh straight league title.
Coach 𝐑![CDATA[]]>𝐡![CDATA[]]>𝐮![CDATA[]]>𝐥![CDATA[]]>𝐚![CDATA[]]>𝐧![CDATA[]]>𝐢 is here 😎#DimaWydad pic.twitter.com/xzjmXvqX1i
— Wydad Athletic Club (@WACofficiel) July 12, 2024
After leaving Sundowns, Mokwena refused to entertain talk of taking a break from the game, and was confident that calls would be flooding in for his services. And as soon as he left the DStv Premiership, it didn’t take long for his phone to start ringing.
According to reports, Algerian club USM Alger were also interested in his services, but it was Wydad, who Mokwena and Sundowns beat in the final of the inaugural African Football League last year, that won the race to sign him.
In his press conference on Thursday, the 37-year-old said all he needed was love, and he was shown a lot by his new club’s fans.
“They showed so much interest in me, they were on top of my agent, on top of me,” said Mokwena, who was dubbed South Africa’s own “Special One”.
“One wise guy said to me ‘go where you’re loved’ and I feel loved and appreciated by the Wydad fans and that’s why I’m here.
“Of course, who says no to a club like Wydad? It’s impossible. And the offer was also too good to refuse.
“But I’m happy to be here, I’m very happy to be here.”
Good morning Wydad Family! 👐#DimaWydad pic.twitter.com/BFNOG1XqMN
— Wydad Athletic Club (@WACofficiel) July 12, 2024
Mokwena was also under no illusion about the task that was at hand. Wydad struggled last season and only finished sixth in the Botola Pro 1.
“I understand how big this challenge is, believe me, I don’t come here with my eyes closed. The negotiations have taken quite a long time because there were quite a few things we had to agree on,” Mokwena said in Thursday evening’s press conference.
“The one thing I really appreciate is that the board is as ambitious as I am and have committed themselves to giving us full support to wake up a sleeping giant and I think it’s not to teach Wydad how to win as a football club; I mean 22 league titles, three Champions League, it’s a team that knows how to win.”
“Our job is just to come here and remind them of what Wydad stands for and when you speak about love, when I did my history on the club I found out that Wydad means love, appreciation,” Mokwena said.
IOL Sport