Rulani Mokwena, the former head coach of Mamelodi Sundowns, is preparing for a return to South Africa as his stint with Wydad Casablanca is set to conclude next month.
Having joined the Moroccan club last year, Mokwena was tasked with leading the team back to the top of the league, but his tenure has not been without challenges.
A Struggling Season with Wydad Casablanca
Despite his best efforts, Mokwena has found it tough to bring success to Wydad Casablanca in the Botola Pro 1 league.
With only a few games remaining, the club’s hopes of securing a third-place finish and a spot in the CAF Confederation Cup hang by a thread.
To achieve this, Wydad needs to win all their remaining matches, which seems unlikely given their recent form.
The team’s record of 12 draws from 27 matches highlights their struggles to turn games into victories.
This reflects a difficulty in adapting to Mokwena’s coaching methods and has led to disappointment for both the coach and fans alike.
While a third-place finish might be considered respectable in some contexts, it is far below the expectations set when Mokwena first arrived.
Reflecting on Mokwena’s Time at Mamelodi Sundowns
Mokwena’s career has been closely tied to Mamelodi Sundowns, where he spent a significant amount of time, initially working with the development team before becoming Pitso Mosimane’s protégé.
After Mosimane’s departure in 2020, Mokwena, alongside Manqoba Mngqithi and Steve Komphela, served as co-coaches for two years.
Eventually, he took over as the head coach of Sundowns.
During his two-year tenure, Mokwena did manage to find some success, but his failure to secure a Champions League title ultimately led to his departure from the club.
Just a week later, he took on the head coach role at Wydad, hoping to rebuild the Moroccan giants.
Challenges Outside of Sundowns
Mokwena’s coaching journey outside of Sundowns has been less smooth.
In 2017, he briefly joined Orlando Pirates as an assistant coach before stepping up as head coach the following year.
Unfortunately, his time with the Buccaneers was short-lived and unsuccessful, resulting in his demotion and departure from the club.
He then took on a brief role at Chippa United during the COVID-19 pandemic, but it was another stint that didn’t work out. Eventually, Mokwena returned to Sundowns before his current role at Wydad.
Why Mokwena Should Consider Returning to the PSL
While Mokwena undoubtedly has potential as a coach, his struggles outside of Sundowns suggest that he needs more experience to refine his skills.
He possesses a deep understanding of Sundowns’ development structures, which allowed him to build on Pitso Mosimane’s legacy.
However, in other environments, Mokwena has struggled to replicate that success.
To improve as a coach, Mokwenaay benefit from managing a midtable team in the PSL for a few years. This would allow him to develop his coaching résumé and gain the experience needed to transition to bigger roles in the future.
Simply moving between well-established Arab clubs won’t provide the same growth, as those teams often focus more on winning championships rather than long-term development.
Mokwena’s respect in the coaching community could grow if he focuses on building a team from the ground up, much like what Mosimane and Gavin Hunt have done throughout their careers.
What’s Next for Mokwena?
It remains to be seen what the future holds for Mokwena once he returns to South Africa.
His next steps could shape his coaching career for years to come, but for now, all eyes are on how his time with Wydad Casablanca will conclude.