Mokwena: "Coaching Wydad Was One of My Toughest and Noblest Achievements... I Rebuilt a Financially Drained Team and Led Them to Third Place"

Rulani Mokwena has revealed the significant differences between his coaching experience with Wydad AC and his current role leading MC Alger at the start of the current football season. Speaking to the South African Sports Journalists' Association (SAFJA), the 38-year-old coach recalled the stark contrasts between the two experiences, stating:

"Wydad was an interesting experience, but we achieved many goals. We took a team from sixth place to third, and a team without financial resources. I say this because I know what happened from the inside. We exhausted all our financial resources, and I recently spoke with President Hicham Ait Mana about this."

"The money the president invested was primarily to pay a FIFA penalty. And when he settled one, he discovered another. We had no budget to sign players at a time when we desperately needed new signings because all the players had left. We were only left with Jamal Harkass and Youssef El Motie," Mokwena added.

"Many said, 'He will never be able to rebuild the team.' But we rebuilt it and finished the season in third place, despite all the challenges. For me, this is one of the toughest and noblest achievements I will cherish in my career."

The former Mamelodi Sundowns coach then spoke about the differing circumstances in his new experience in Algeria: "MC Alger had two excellent coaches over the last two seasons. I received all the training sessions from the past two years, and Beaumelle did a great job in the pre-season, instilling important playing principles in the team, both with and without possession. The transfer policy was also very good."

He concluded: "The two jobs require completely different coaching personalities, and this job here relies on pushing a group that has been built over years by good coaches."