How Rulani Mokwena inspired MC Alger to earn his first win

South African coach Rulani Mokwena found a creative way of ensuring his first victory with MC Alger on Thursday.

The former Mamelodi Sundowns trainer returned to North Africa in July to take charge of the Algerian League 1 champions.

Mokwena replaced Tunisian mentor Khaled Ben Yahia at the club months after parting ways with Morocco’s Wydad Athletic Club.

The South African was given a tough mandate of winning the CAF Champions League, domestic league and a cup this season.

Mokwena’s first assignment ended in a goalless draw against city rivals USM Alger last Sunday.

The two points dropped left the Algerian champions in 10th place on the log table.

Mokwena finally got his first victory with the Algerian Ligue 1 holders after beating Olympique Akbou 1-0 on Friday.

A video clip has since emerged on x.com showing the 38-year-old’s unique motivation talk to his players before the game.

Mokwena is seen giving one of his backroom staff members a pencil while surrounded by players.

“Break it,” the coach told the panel member who successfully broke the pencil.

The former Orlando Pirates manager then gave the same man a bunch of pencils stuck together and asked him to break them.

“Break them,” Mokwena said as the man failed to break the pencils.

In conclusion, Mokwena used that example of the pencils to drive home a message of strength in togetherness to his squad.

“Together we stand. Divided we break,” the ex-Chippa United man concluded.

Meanwhile, Mokwena told the media after the first game that it was too early for him to assess his squad.

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