Mamelodi Sundowns coach Rhulani Mokwena during the DStv Premiership match between Mamelodi Sundowns and Cape Town City FC at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on 4 April 2023 in Pretoria, South Africa. (Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images)
- Rhulani Mokwena, former Mamelodi Sundowns head coach, is Wydad Athletic Club’s new head coach.
- Wydad endured a tough season, finishing outside the top four and losing the African Football League final.
- Mokwena’s impressive record includes leading Sundowns to multiple titles, and he now aims to revitalize the Moroccan giants.
- For more PSL news.
Exactly one week after parting ways with Mamelodi Sundowns as head coach, Rhulani Mokwena is set to embark on a new challenge in North Africa.
READ | Mokwena opens up, details shock Sundowns exit: ‘My hand was forced’
The 37-year-old has been appointed as the new head coach of Morocco’s football giants, Wydad Athletic Club, as they gear up for the 2024/25 season.
“Welcome aboard, Coach Rhulani Mokwena! Ready to lead us to victory,” Wydad announced on their official X (formerly Twitter) account.
Rulani Mokwena ???????? ?????????? ???????????????????? ???????? ?????? ???????? ?????????????? ???? ???????????????????? ???? Welcome to your new home Mister ???? pic.twitter.com/RVCj7Xnij2
— Wydad Red Castle (@WydadRedCastle) July 10, 2024
The Botola Pro giants endured a tough season, finishing outside the top four and losing the final of the inaugural African Football League to Sundowns, ironically under Mokwena’s leadership.
Additionally, they failed to progress past the group stages of the CAF Champions League, leading to the dismissal of coaches Adil Ramzi and Faouzi Benzarti.
ALSO READ | ‘Endings are new beginnings in disguise’: Bye Sundowns, emotional Mokwena pens heartfelt letter
Mokwena’s availability attracted interest from numerous clubs across Africa, but it was the Wydad project that made the most sense to him.
His journey in Premier Soccer League (PSL) coaching began as an assistant at Sundowns (2014-2017), with stints at Orlando Pirates and Chippa United before he returned to Chloorkop and within months was named co-coach (2020-2022), and then finally assumed head coach duties (2022-2024).
During his tenure as head coach, Mokwena led Sundowns to two Premiership titles, the Nedbank Cup, and the prestigious inaugural AFL crown.
His record includes 91 matches, with an impressive 60 wins, 20 draws, and only nine losses. Under his leadership, his teams scored 169 goals and conceded just 59.
Mokwena now faces the challenge of revitalizing Wydad and leading them to new heights in Moroccan and African football.