When the news broke on July 3 that Rulani Mokwena had been sacked by Mamelodi Sundowns, it sent shock waves across the football fraternity, but for the man himself – he anticipated his exit.
After several years at Sundowns serving in various capacities, he spent his prime years at the club calling shots as the head coach or playing second fiddle to Pitso Mosimane.
The former Orlando Pirates mentor now calls the shots at Moroccan giants Wydad Casablanca where he is tasked with restoring The Red Castle back to the summit of the Botola Pro.
Speaking to the South African Football Journalists Association from Morocco this week, Mokwena says he knew that his time at Sundowns was nearing an end, even though he did not anticipate that his exit would be as sudden as it was.
“I don’t know if all of you (journalists) were surprised. There is quite a few who were not surprised. I’ve had a few hints that I dropped in my press conferences alluding to some of my struggles and some of the things that I was going through.
“To me it was not a surprise, a lot of people who are close to me can tell you that. Even though I feel it was a bit premature. As a person, there are certain things you can feel so I don’t necessarily feel like it was that much of a surprise,” said Mokwena.
Some of his options were to go to Richards Bay, as the ex-Chippa United mentor claimed he was offered a job by the club – something chairman Sifiso ‘Jomo’ Biyela rebuffed.
Mokwena’s other option was to take some time away from the dugout just like his mentor Mosimane, who has been unattached since parting ways with Saudi Arabia’s Abha Club at the end of May.
“I thought about the sabbatical quite extensively but I am 37 – why should I take a sabbatical at my age? I am only beginning my career. I am fortunate enough that at the beginning of my career I can say that I have coached three incredible football clubs and I have launched a career where I don’t think I was given anything on a silver platter.
“I worked very hard to be where I am and I am grateful to all the clubs that gave me an opportunity to serve and to give my best. That is what I will do here – I will serve with everything that I have and make the best of this opportunity,” Mokwena added.
This past Sunday (August 11), Mokwena marked a month since joining the three-time CAF Champions League winners. He looks back at his time at Sundowns from a position of appreciation and vows to cement a stepping stone for those who are likely to follow in his footsteps.
“It has been a bit of a turbulent experience in the last two months. I have got very little to say about my time at Sundowns, I have put it in the past and I only take the good memories. I carry the experiences of some of the people who are at the club who I have incredible appreciation for.
“Seven trophies in four years, I look at it as an incredible milestone. I see it as an opportunity to create even more possibilities for South Africans and try to live up to the legacy of the South Africans who have come up to the North and succeeded,” said the Wydad mentor.
Chef Rulani Mokwena 👨🏾🍳😂 pic.twitter.com/SJk7QoyPM6
— Wydad Red Castle (@WydadRedCastle) August 13, 2024
