Apart from atheists and agnostics, most people are aligned to a particular religion or faith belief. Wydad Casablanca head coach Rhulani Mokwena believes his move to Morocco has brought him closer to his God.
Mokwena – a man who has never hidden his faith – arrived in Morocco last month to become South Africa’s second coach to take charge of a North African team. His immediate task is to focus on the Botola Pro1 which Wydad have not won in two seasons.
The former Mamelodi Sundowns mentor assembled an all-Mzansi technical team and has been handed all the authority to spearhead the club’s recruitment process.
Since his arrival, Mokwena has overseen a couple of friendly games, and while football is Mokwena’s number one priority – another part of his life has been blossoming.
In a wide-ranging interview with the South African Football Journalists Association, Mokwena opened up about his spiritual life and how being in Morocco is turning out to be a blessing.
“I am enjoying learning about a different culture, I am enjoying the experience, working with this group of players and the challenges of putting together a new team and trying to get this club where it used to be. So far so good and let’s see how it goes.
“I am here to learn as much as I can and I am adapting to the praying culture, that’s one of the things I am enjoying the most.
“The people here are extremely religious, they pray almost five times a day without any reminders. I have started to join them, even though I still pray in my own language but I enjoy the fact that there is so much spirituality about it.
“For the last few years, the void I’ve had has been in that space and I said this to a friend of mine: ‘If God had said to me that part of me coming to Morocco is for your spiritual nourishment and spiritual development’, I would take that.
“Spiritually, this environment will help me and it has helped me. It is probably the biggest difference that I have noticed,” Mokwena explained.
Cultures are different across the globe – something Mokwena is currently experiencing. However, he feels it is too early to draw parallels or comparisons.
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“I’ve only been in the country for one month and we have been in camp a lot. I don’t think it is long enough to say these are differences from a place where I have spent my entire life versus a place where I have only spent one month.
“It would be unfair for both Morocco and South Africa as a whole if I were to compare the two,” Mokwena explained.
Chef Rulani Mokwena 👨🏾🍳😂 pic.twitter.com/SJk7QoyPM6
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