Former AS FAR coach Jamil Benouahi has attributed Mokwena’s challenges in North Africa to the closure of big stadiums in preparation for AFCON in Morocco later this year. Benouahi says the small-sized stadiums in terms of the pitch are not suitable for free-flowing football that is played by Mokwena’s team.
He also attributed Mokwena’s slow start to life in Morocco to changes within the team, such as playing personnel and playing style.
“You know when Rulani arrived here, Wydad were a mess because you know they finished sixth on the table last season,”
“Football is a process. When Rulani arrived, they signed about 20 new players. So this is a new team that is adapting to a new style of play.
“A second thing is that here in Morocco, they closed all the big stadiums for renovations in preparation for the 2025 AFCON in December. So all the games are played in small fields, and that’s not easy for a team that plays with a lot of positions and keeps the ball.
“Last weekend, Wydad played without the ball and won 1-0. I love Rulani because he believes in his style of play, but sometimes you have to adapt to new methods. He needs to incorporate the direct football into his style to survive every challenge in a match.”
In addition, Mokwena’s future at Wydad hangs in the balance, with SABC Sport reporting he has not been paid for eight months. The club faces a critical decision: either terminate his contract with immediate effect or allow him to finish the remaining five Botola Pro League games.
“Although some directors reportedly pushed for his sacking, it is said that Wydad will likely keep Mokwena for now, largely due to the high cost of terminating his contract.”
The 38-year-old tactician has faced a lot of criticism from the Wydad fans and pundits who are questioning his style of play. A few weeks ago, Mokwena said he won’t sacrifice his position-based football. However, he’ll request to leave the club if he’s deemed the problem.
A Moroccan coach has addressed the key challenges faced by Rulani Mokwena at Wydad Casablanca following reports of issues within the club.
The rumours of unrest came after Mokwena’s troops suffered a heart-wrenching 1-0 defeat against MA Tétouan to crash out of the Throne Cup in the Round of 16 on Saturday night. The loss ended Mokwena’s realistic chances of winning silverware with Wydad after RS Berkane clinched the 2024/25 league title.
The highly-rated South African coach will be looking to finish as runners-up in the Botola Pro 1 to qualify for the CAF Champions League next season.
In the current campaign, the Moroccan giants are sitting third on the league table with 43 points after 25 matches. They are two points adrift of second-placed AS FAR, who collected 45 points in the same number of games.
Meanwhile, Mokwena is under immense pressure at Wydad, having joined the club at the start of the season from Mamelodi Sundowns.
