As though Rhulani Mokwena is inspired by the Biblical verse "cast your burden unto me", the 37-year-old is looking to be the messiah of Wydad Casablanca and steer them out of the wilderness that they have been in over the past two seasons.
Mokwena has already vowed to do more than what his bosses asked of him. Wydad’s top brass told the former Orlando Pirates mentor to implement at least 25% of Mamelodi Sundowns’ piano and shoe-shine brand of football.
In his first interview after being installed at Wydad – Mokwena said he promised an output of about 26%. This is a sign of a man who is committed to the course.
Mokwena was unfortunate to exit Chloorkop in the manner that it transpired as there was no kiss-and-say-goodbye moment between himself and the club he served for several years.
Now, at his new home in the heart of Casablanca, Mokwena has inherited the struggles of Wydad, who have fallen from grace in the past two seasons.
The Red Castle failed to qualify for the 2024/25 CAF Champions League, missing out for the first time in 10 editions. Wydad have not tasted success in the Botola Pro in the past two campaigns. These are all the things Mokwena wants to put on the straight and narrow.
“I know it is a difficult period in the club, I know the size and the magnitude of the project and the task that lies ahead. When I got here and the discussions I had with the new president and the new board, I was really convinced that this is the right challenge – a difficult challenge,” Mokwena said in a recent interview with the South African Football Journalists Association.
"Now I carry their dreams. I carry their pain because for the last two years the club was going through a difficult period".
Coach Mokwena with the magic touch ⚽👏
— Wydad Athletic Club (@WACofficiel) August 16, 2024
📹 Watch today's training session on our YouTube channel :
[ https://t.co/x4yWAvTFh3 ]#DimaWydad pic.twitter.com/FNGGAvmAF5
“For the fans, their pain has become my pain. Their dreams have become my dreams, and I have to try to assimilate myself into the culture and try to carry the hopes and ambitions of what is a very incredible club with incredible pedigree and history.
“But of course, there is pressure and demand. We’ve got to fulfil those. What the fans know is that they know I will fill every single part of this club and day by day I am falling more and more in love with the football club, just as much as I was in love with Sundowns.
To this day, Mokwena has not given a conclusive and comprehensive account of his tenure as the Buccaneers head coach. Mokwena was calling the shots at Pirates in 2019 and was let go after his miniature spell at Chippa United.
However, when speaking about Masandawana, Mokwena does not fall short of blowing his own horn.
Hanging on his wall of achievements are four consecutive league gold medals – two as a co-head coach and as many as a sole mentor. Paired with those are the African Football League, Nedbank Cup and MTN8 titles.
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“As a coach, you move and as you come you have to be prepared to leave. It is about how you leave. When you leave you try to leave the club in a better place.
“I think Ieft Sundowns in a better place and I will try to do my best to give this club everything that I have to fill this club in every way that I can and try to help this incredible football club to soar to greater heights and possibly try to dominate the space like they’ve done in the past. I’m excited about the project.
Inside today's training session 📹
— Wydad Athletic Club (@WACofficiel) July 31, 2024
Link: https://t.co/qZJZFYDkxs#DimaWydad pic.twitter.com/PH1H1pfRDY
