“I paid players, bought training equipment”: Rulani unpacks Wydad sacrifices

Former Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates coach Rulani Mokwena has opened up about the sacrifices he made during his challenging tenure at Wydad Athletic Club, including personally funding player payments and purchasing training equipment.

The 38-year-old coach, recently parted ways with the Moroccan giants after a turbulent season at the helm. He was brought in at the beginning of the campaign with a clear mandate: to revive Wydad’s fortunes after they finished a disappointing sixth the previous season, missing out on CAF competitions.

Under his guidance, the team significantly improved its position. However, while Mokwena laid the groundwork for their recovery, he was released from his contract early and was no longer at the helm when the team ultimately achieved a third-place finish and secured their return to African continental football.

Despite this success, Mokwena’s time in Casablanca was fraught with difficulties. He revealed that he had to construct an entirely new squad from scratch and, remarkably, went unpaid for eight months.

“I came to Wydad, and they had no players. It was a big test for me,” Mokwena told MSW as quoted by FARPost . “In that moment, I could test myself and my qualities as a coach, putting together a squad from absolutely bare bones to what we eventually had.”

He continued, emphasising the comprehensive nature of the challenge: “I could test, not just my training, but my leadership and my recruitment skills. Again, I had the right people at the right time. All I pray for every single night is for God to place me in a space where I can be surrounded by the right people and be in the right environment at the right time.”

Mokwena vehemently denied claims by the club that his departure was due to psychological pressures or a need to “step back.” He pointed out that Wydad’s official statement making these claims was swiftly removed from their website and social media just ten minutes after its initial posting.

“If you go to the website and their social media pages, that statement was actually removed 10 minutes after it was posted. Even the situation of taking a break was not from me. I had no issues with pressure and psychological breakdowns and all these things,” Mokwena asserted.

He elaborated on the true reasons behind his decision to step down, citing a deep-seated frustration with the lack of appreciation for his immense personal investment.

“As a coach, I was prepared to step down because there was a lot of talk. I remember one day I said to the president, ‘I cannot take it when I invest so much. I work so hard to bring so many players. Almost all of them for free, and I have to sometimes, from my own pocket, pay some of the players, pay some of the staff, go and buy training equipment from my own pocket, and invest in the club.'”

Mokwena’s breaking point came when a club official questioned his dedication. “And then I have a vice president of the club asking me ‘do you love this club’. I would never subject myself to some of the things that happened, and still be subjected to some of the treatment. That’s when I said to the president, maybe there’s a misalignment somewhere, and it would be better for me to step down.”

He also dismissed accusations that his motive was solely to manage the team at the Club World Cup to face elite coaches like Pep Guardiola before leaving.